Two of Brookfield High School golf team’s state championship-caliber seniors have signed letters of intent to play college golf.
Conner Stevens inked paperwork to attend Youngstown State University on Nov. 15, and Justin Atkinson committed to the University of Findlay on Nov. 18.
Conner and Justin were key parts of teams that made the state tournament four years in a row. Justin placed second as an individual at this year’s tourney, and Conner came in fourth.
YSU scored on several important points, said Conner, who plans to major in business.
“I love the coach (Tony Joy). The coach is really cool. He kind of welcomed me. The team is really good. I know the whole team, which is nice. It’s (campus) pretty close, which is a bonus. I’ll live on campus and, if I really need anything, it’s 10 minutes, I can drive right back. I’m excited.”
The team members are from Boardman and Campbell, and he has gotten to know them at tournaments throughout his golf career, Conner said.
“They had a good season this year,” he said. “I know they’ll have a lot of seniors next year. Hopefully, I can sneak (in) and win a spot, and make an impact. I’m excited for what it holds.”
Justin called the Findlay coaching staff “awesome.”
“I just love the campus, when I went and visited,” said Justin, who plans to major in actuarial science. “Just a great atmosphere.”
He is going to a team that has had success.
“This fall, they played well,” Justin said. “They played in six tournaments and won three, and took runner-up in the other three.”
Justin expressed modest goals for his collegiate golf career.
“I just hope to get better and see where my game can take me,” he said.
The third senior on the team, Jake Shingledecker, is exploring his college options.
Brookfield golf coach Larry Smoot said Justin and Conner are the second and third Brookfield golfers to earn college scholarship money. The other is his son, Nate, who graduated in 2018.
