GAME CHANGERS

Jack Roberts is a true game changer

WORDS AND PHOTOS BY DERRICK DAVIS

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The term “game changer” would be an understatement in describing Jack Roberts.

The Frederica Academy freshman is on the track to golf superstardom in an area that is immensely informed on the subject. Coming off an eighth grade campaign that saw him earn GISA All-State honors on a Knights’ varsity golf team that finished second in Class 3A, Jack tore up the summer circuit, notching his second win at the Future Masters following a first-place finish at the Southern Junior Championship at Lake Oconee.

Now, Golfweek’s top-ranked golfer in the Class of 2025 has received an exclusive invitation to play in the prestigious Junior Invitational at Sage Valley on March 17 to19.

“It’s pretty cool,” Jack says with a smile. “There are a lot of really good players in the Class of 2025, so to be at No. 1 is a great feeling.” Widely recognized as the No. 1 junior event in golf since it was founded in 2011, the Junior Invitational features a limited field of the best amateur golfers from around the world.

Notable tournament alumni are a who’s who of PGA Tour pros and major winners, including Collin Morikawa, Scottie Scheffler, Viktor Hovland, Matthew Fitzpatrick, Justin Thomas, Cameron Champ, Andy Ogletree, and Akshay Bhatia.

“It’s a really hard tournament to get in to, so it’s pretty cool,” Jack says. “You just have to play really good in prior tournaments to get into it.”

Multiple factors go into qualifying for the 54-hole stroke-play event. There are a number of automatic qualifiers,

some of which are the top 10 and ties from the 2020 Junior Invitational.

Last year’s event was canceled due to COVID-19, but the 2020 field featured players spanning 11 countries over five continents, including 38 of the top 40 players on the Golfweek/Sagarin Junior Boys Rankings.

Jack currently sits at No. 23 overall in the rankings, but he is the only freshman within the top 150. He will be by far the youngest competitor at the Junior Invitational this year, and possibly ever.

“It shows that all my hard work has paid off,” Jack says. “I don’t know what to say. It’s really cool to be a part of this tournament and play in it.”

Jack is no stranger to being the youngest, most successful golfer in a room. He got into golf before graduating from elementary school when it became apparent he hit the ball differently than his peers — his swing speed with the driver registers at 113 miles per hour, about average for the PGA Tour.

“It’s been a long journey,” says Kevin Roberts, Jack’s father and coach of the Frederica Academy golf team. “He started playing golf at a very young age; tournaments, maybe 8. Every year, he’s always done well, and he won some big tournaments at 10, 11, and 12.

“Then, he gets to be like 13, and he’s still doing well. His ranking is getting closer to No. 1, and that’s just validation to him and motivation to him.”

Before Jack heads off to Sage Valley, he continues to help Frederica get off to a strong start to the season a year after the program saw its streak of 14 consecutive state championships snapped.

Jack could enter this year’s state tournament sporting an illustrious Gold Jacket, though he doesn’t want to put too high of expectations on his appearance at the Junior Invitational.

Of course, he’s aiming to win the tournament, if not finish within the top 5-10, but Jack is just happy to get the opportunity to test himself against players committed to playing college golf for elite programs. Players he looks up to.

Everything is falling into place perfectly for Jack, who is already drawing plenty of college interest in his own right.

“Ever since the Southern Junior, that was really my first big win, and it kind of showed me that I can compete at a high level,” Jack says. “I just kept working hard and trying to play well in these big events, trying to get to where those other kids are one day.”

Butch Paxton, Agent 3136 Cypress Mill Road Brunswick, GA 31525 Bus: 912-265-4393 butch@butchpaxton.com

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