This article was written by Kelly Chinn to commemorate his 2020 season:
Rolex Junior Player of the Year was my biggest goal this year.
From the start of the season, it was a goal to truly become the best. After Maxwell Moldovan made his speech last November, I turned to my dad and told him I would be the one making the speech in 2020.
I took this goal to heart and made it into something that I would work towards all year long.
Even through the pandemic, the AJGA gave us an opportunity to compete in the best junior events in the country.
They did a fantastic job running events while also controlling our exposure to the virus. I cannot thank them enough for giving me a chance to do the things I love.
During the first stages of the pandemic, a lot of our tournaments were cancelled and postponed. Most of us did not know when our next event was ... and it was sometimes hard to be motivated to continue to work and practice.
I really took advantage of the time I had and tried to elevate my game to another level. I wanted to try to improve everything about my game ... including my swing, strength, health and my mentality. With the help and support from my swing coach, Daniel Neben, and my parents, I became a better golfer and a more confident human being. They have really helped me in all parts of golf, and I can’t thank them enough for it all.
This year of tournaments has also been the most fun.
Although the pandemic restricted bigger social gatherings, I spent time with all my friends at these events. We all have created a special bond, and had a lot of fun. I was just as excited to see them after rounds as I was about competing. They have made all of the tournaments even more enjoyable and it has truly been an awesome year.
I think one of the main keys to my success was my ability to stay positive and have a good mindset going into every tournament. My mental game was a lot stronger this year and early goal-setting helped me maintain focus and work toward them all.
2020 has been an incredible journey and a year I will never forget.
