FORE-ging Ahead to College with TTU K-12

By Leslie Cranford, Section Manager

Mikey Bullock and Zach David, both 17, are determined to play Division 1 golf on scholarship when they attend college. To that end, they enrolled in TTU K-12's full-time diploma program to both get an NCAA-approved education and to have more time to practice and play in tournaments.

It helps that their coach, Wendy Werley Bullock, is also Mikey's mom. She played Division 1 golf at the University of New Mexico on a full scholarship and then became a professional golfer. She has been a Class A Member of the LPGA since 1990 and is a USKIDS Golf Top 50 Master Teacher.

"We were very selective when it came to choosing an online high school program for our son, Mikey and my golf student, Zach," she said. "Traditional school was making it very difficult to get in the hours of practice time needed to elevate their games to compete at the next level. TTU K-12 was the only online program that I felt was compliant with the strict academic guidelines of the NCAA, which was our number one need. The school took the time to go through all the rigor with the NCAA to get their courses approved."

"Mikey and Zach started in early September and absolutely love the program," she said, "including being able to create their own schedule with their schoolwork, workouts and golf practice and tournaments. Both boys agree."

"Texas Tech High School has allowed me the ability to practice more of my golf so I can improve my game faster," Mikey said. "This also allows me to travel to tournaments and not fall behind in school, because I am in charge of my own schedule."

Zach also says TTU K-12 has given him the opportunity to practice golf more with the ability to still get his schoolwork done.

"I have already seen improvement in my golf game and my education. This program also gives me the ability to create my own schedule, which helps in all aspects of my life," Zach added.

"We just happened to be in Lubbock for a Legends Junior Golf Tour event at the end of September, and I was able to line up a meeting with Principal Cari Moye and Senior Academic Advisor Brenda Shupe to meet the boys," Wendy said. "They were so pleased to make the connection with these fine ladies and are very excited to represent Texas Tech High School playing golf around the country."

Mikey is currently ranked 31st in Texas and 267th nationally for the class of 2021 by Junior Golf Scoreboard, the national ranking organization. He was accepted into the field in the Optimist International Tournament of Champions event Nov. 9-10 in Orlando, where he tied for 20th among competitors from 10 other countries.

As a coach and a parent, Wendy loves seeing the discipline that the program is already instilling in them and preparing them for college.

"I was fortunate to play golf from 1985-1989 on a full scholarship at UNM," Wendy said. "So, it is very exciting for me to be able to help my own son and my students with fulfilling their dreams of playing in college."

Part of that equation was finding a way to successfully blend their academics with their passion to pursue their sport.

"We feel that finding TTU K-12 has been such a blessing for these boys and for me as their LPGA golf professional guiding them in their game and knowing their academics are being taken care of with this great system. It allows for a much better balance between school, golf and their life."