Fortinet Intern Spotlight Series: Caden Quiles, Austin Sweitzer, & Dawson Thornton
This month, as part of the Fortinet Intern Spotlight Series, we are highlighting three former AJGA Interns who now work together at the South Carolina Golf Association (SCGA): Caden Quiles, Austin Sweitzer and Dawson Thornton. During their time at the AJGA, Quiles participated in the Traveling Operations Internship in 2023, while Thornton and Sweitzer completed the Operations and Tournament Assistant Internships in 2022 and 2023. Currently, Quiles and Sweitzer are in the Tournament Coordination Department, and Thornton is in the Amateur Golf Department at the SCGA.
Could you tell us a little about yourself and the roles you held at the AJGA?
Thornton: I’m originally from right outside of Charlotte, North Carolina, where I played golf my whole life. I attended Washington & Jefferson College, where I earned my undergraduate degree in business with a focus on operations analytics and played on the golf team for all four years.
Sweitzer: I graduated from Ohio State University with a degree in psychology. I got my start in golf through one of my best friends, AJGA Director, Operations and Rules Jacob Kennedy, who introduced me to the AJGA.
Quiles: I didn’t begin my golf journey until I was 19. I am originally from Georgia and attended Young Harris College, where I got my degree in Sports Management, which led me to the AJGA.
What do you do and how did you get involved with the SCGA?
Quiles: Out of the three of us, I was the first one to join the SCGA. After my last tournament with the AJGA, I landed a job at the SCGA just two weeks later, resulting in a very quick turnaround. At the SCGA, I serve as a Tournament Coordinator, overseeing all of our majors, invitationals and smaller Korn Ferry-style events. I am also involved in the ranking process in which oftentimes we receive assistance from the AJGA with some of our tournament rankings.
Sweitzer: I was sitting at home, trying to figure out what I wanted to do for a full-time job, when I came across a LinkedIn post announcing that the SCGA was hiring. I knew Quiles was working for them. I then decided to reach out to him about the position, and he encouraged me to apply for the junior role. Now, I serve as a Tournament Coordinator and work directly with Quiles.
Thornton: I work in the Amateur Golf Department at the SCGA, where I am involved in all golf tournaments for players 18 years of age and above. I also help run the South Carolina State Cups and the USGA qualifiers.
What was one of your favorite memories during your time at the AJGA?
Thornton: My favorite memory was the last two weeks of the internship when we traveled to Minnesota to work at the Annika Intercollegiate presented by 3M, a girls' collegiate event. It was very different from anything we did during the summer, as we dealt with all the teams, coaches and juniors. It was cool to see the other tournaments outside of the junior events.
Sweitzer: At the end of the summer, during my Tournament Assistant year, an elevated internship position after successfully completing a previous season, three other TAs and I went traveling together for the last two weeks. It was my favorite memory because we were able to share our experiences over the previous two years and exchange the knowledge we gained working at the AJGA. Being able to travel to different places and working with diverse groups of people was the best part.
Quiles: My favorite memory was from when we attended the Coca-Cola Junior Championship at The Highlands in Michigan. That week was the Fourth of July and a few of my teammates and I were able to watch the fireworks over the lake.
What advice do you have for others considering the AJGA internship?
Thornton: My advice is to not be afraid to make mistakes. This is a learning experience that demonstrates your willingness to learn and complete tasks independently without needing guidance. Show that you are putting in the effort and are reliable, as this shows your Tournament Director that they can trust you to make accurate rulings on the course and communicate effectively with parents.
Sweitzer: Ask questions about everything! As an Operations Intern, that is the key to the job and being able to learn as much as possible about it. However, it is also key to making connections and relationships with people. Making connections is crucial because you never know who you might meet; asking one question can spark a meaningful conversation.
Quiles: The first piece of advice I would give is to be a sponge and absorb as much knowledge as possible, especially if you want to enter the sports or golf industry. The second piece of advice is that everyone on your team is like family. You will be with these people all spring or summer, so it’s essential to build strong relationships with them, as they will become your family away from home. To this day, I still speak with many of my teammates daily.
If you're driven to be part of this dynamic community, applications for 2026 will open August 11th, 2025! For more insights and to apply for the #AJGAInternship, explore the AJGA Careers
webpage and Instagram channel
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