By Myra Bean

Batesville native Grant Goforth has made the decision to become a
professional golfer.

After playing at Northwest Community College and Delta State University and
competing in the nationals at both schools, he felt this is his next move.

Goforth will play the equivalent of baseball’s minor league in the NGA
(National Golf Association) Tour which starts in February 2014.

Unlike baseball, there is no team to pay his way. Until then, he has to
raise money to go on the tour.

To that end, Goforth will host his first tournament at the Panola Country
Club, “Golfing “Fore” Goforth on Saturday and Sunday, August 24 and 25. It
is a three-person scramble with a $600 payout for the first team in each
flight, $450 for the second team in each flight and $300 for the third team
in each flight.

Everyone in the community is invited to participate and attend the
tournament and the silent auction, according to Goforth.

Some of the big items up for auction are trips to St. Louis to Cardinal
baseball games.

To register, contact Goforth at (662) 710-4565 or Olemiss38606
@aim.com.

On both days, there will be shotgun starts at 8:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Lunch
will be served. Happy hour will start at 6 p.m. and dinner at 7 p.m. A live
auction and band will follow dinner.

Leading up to his professional debut, Goforth tries to practice his game
daily.

“It definitely takes a lot of practice and dedication,” he said.

The course at Panola Country Club has been down this summer as they are
working on greens so Goforth has not gotten as much practice as he likes.

His mother Tracy said she and his father Ronnie are excited about this
opportunity for him.

“Ronnie and I are very excited about this opportunity,” said Tracy. “Grant
has completed his Business Management degree and should receive his MBA from
Delta State University very soon. That was most important to us. Now, he has
a chance to follow a dream while he is still young. We don’t want him to
have any regrets and look back one day and wish that he had given it a try.

Golf is a very difficult sport to make a living at but we believe that God
has a plan for him and we are looking forward to watching him pursue his
dream.”

The NGA Tour this year was played in North and South Carolina, Kentucky,
Tennessee, Florida and even in Mississippi in Natchez in the Magnolia Bluffs
Casino Classic, July 8-14.

Goforth got his start in golf five years ago playing a couple of matches for
South Panola. He really made his mark at Northwest as he started winning
tournaments and went to nationals.

He continued his quest at Delta State where he was named All-American and
also played in the nationals.

“My coach at DSU has been a big supporter trying to get me to do it,” he
said. “A bunch of other guys in town saying I got the game now so if I don’t
do it, I will never do it.”

Goforth has wanted to go pro for the past year, but he just finished his
masters degree at Delta State in business.

In his earlier formative years, Goforth excelled in both baseball and
tennis. As for baseball he said he got burnout and in tennis, after he got
to a certain level, he did not have anyone to practice with.

“When I got to a certain level, I would have to travel to Oxford, Grenada
and Memphis. I didn’t like to do all the traveling just to practice,” he
said.

Goforth played in the Mississippi State Am games this summer where he placed
12th.

“I was not very good because the year before I finished second,” he said.

Next he will play in the Mississippi Cup Matches in October which will pit
the top 12 amateurs against the top 12 professionals in Mississippi.

He said the only real qualification to becoming a pro is to shoot under par.
As for the tournament, Goforth expects 300 to 400 people to participate
because he has his own plans to give back to Panola County when he becomes a
professional.