To learn more about giving back to First Tee Massachusetts, visit: FirstTeeMass.org and don’t forget to follow us on social media, @FirstTeeMass for Facebook and Instagram.
BROOKLINE, Massachusetts — When Jon Rahm held his press conference Tuesday morning, reporters were curious to ask him about The Country Club’s championship course and how he feels about his title defense.
Then 10-year-old Kensie Carroll, a First Tee — Massachusetts participant from Milton, put him on the spot.
“Who are you rooting for, Celtics or Warriors?” she asked. Rahm smiled and laughed before admitting he’s pulling for the Celtics, as his family vacationed with star forward Jayson Tatum.
Carroll was selected as this year’s junior golf reporter, an offering by the USGA® and Sentry, to shadow Golf Channel reporter Kira Dixon on Tuesday to interview Rahm, sit down for a 1-on-1 with Beau Hossler, and chat with other players, plus a group of TV hosts and reporters on site this week at the U.S. Open.
“We selected a few kids we thought would be good and interviewed them over Zoom, and Kensie really rose to the top,” said Kyle Harris, Director of Operations for First Tee Massachusetts. “Kensie really shined, so we were happy to select her for this experience.”
Kensie may have exuded some shyness, but with the cameras on she opened up around some of the world’s best players. She also asked Rahm if he has a favorite club to help him escape from trouble (It depends on the day). With Hossler, she asked was nervous about this year’s U.S. Open (he will be on Thursday-Sunday), and if there was another sport he’s good at besides golf. (He said only baseball).
“They’re really nice,” Kensie said of the people she interviewed.
Junior reporter Kenzie asking (really good) questions with total confidence to Rahm.
Her mother said she plays 5 sports but she can’t get enough golf. She started at the First Tee and has been hooked ever since. pic.twitter.com/ibkeTkfAZi— Chantel McCabe (@chantel_mccabe) June 14, 2022
Kimberlee said Kenzie has some natural reporter skills. “She does a lot of observing first. She has tons of friends, too, so everyone wants to hear from Kensie.”
She also received high praise from Dixon, who introduced her to golf writer Dylan Dethier, Scott Walker from Golf Channel and Michael Collins from ESPN.
“She was a natural,” Dixon said of Kensie. “She clearly really loves golf and enjoyed getting to be in thick of things of golf course and did a great job answering questions.”
First Tee is a youth development organization that enables kids and teens to build the strength of character that empowers them through a lifetime of new challenges. By seamlessly integrating the game of golf with a life skills curriculum, we create active learning experiences that build inner strength, self-confidence, and resilience that kids can carry with them to everything they do. We’re Building Game Changers through our junior golf programs.
To learn more about giving back to First Tee Massachusetts, visit: FirstTeeMass.org and don’t forget to follow us on social media, @FirstTeeMass for Facebook and Instagram.
Visit MassGolf.org and follow @PlayMassGolf on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for the latest content from this year’s U.S. Open Championship at The Country Club.
