Fort Smith teen earns First Tee invite

LITTLE ROCK — Mason Goodson is fulfilling a golfer’s dream: He’s going to play Pebble Beach.

Goodson, of Fort Smith, was invited to be one of 81junior golfers in the Champions Tour’s First Tee Open in California. The tournament, which pairs 81 tour players with the juniors, begins July 6 and will be played at the Pebble Beach and Del Monte courses on the Monterey Peninsula.

“I’m very excited,” Goodson said. “It took me three years to get accepted. I want to see what I can learn while I’m out there.”

Goodson, 17, had to complete a thorough application process that included five essay questions, proof of community service and an interview. He has been involved with the First Tee of Fort Smith since he was 5.

“My dad took me out there to First Tee and got me started,” said Goodson, who recently completed his junior year at Subiaco Academy. “Ever since then, I’ve been going back wanting to play golf.”

Chris Murphy, the director of programming for the First Tee of Fort Smith, said Goodson has been a volunteer coach the past three years. Murphy said Goodson travels from Subiaco Academy during the school year to help out.

“The kids really take to him. He’s a great mentor. He’s the face of what we want our kids to be,” Murphy said.

Goodson said he has become a better golfer than his dad, Kevin, but said his father has less time to practice than he does. Goodson finished fifth in the Class 4A state tournament last season.

Murphy, who has worked with Goodson for the past five years, remembers taking Goodson to a tournament early in his career, when the young golfer didn’t really know what he was getting into.

That has changed as Goodson has worked and practiced at First Tee.

“Mason is a real good golfer,” Murphy said. “He’s still learning. He has good course management. He works on every aspect of it.”

Goodson has played with LPGA players in the NW Arkansas Championship, which had a similar pairing program. He won’t find out which senior golfer he’ll be paired with until a couple of days before the tournament starts.

Goodson said he isn’t sure of his college plans because as much as he would love to continue his golf career, he also wants to be an architect.

“I’m thinking about it, but I don’t know if I’ll have time for it,” Goodson said. “I’ve been thinking about it a lot, but it’s going to be a difficult decision. I think school will be more important in the long run.”