How Ava Kight became a state champion and Division 1 commit

PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) – “I just knew I had this gift and I knew I wanted to take it as far as I wanted to.”

This is state champion and Southern Miss commit Ava Kight. Just a month ago, Ava and her South Walton teammates became the area’s first golf team since the Niceville Lady Eagles in 2011 to win the state championship.

It’s been a long journey for Ava since she arrived at Seacoast just four years ago. She started from a young age with a desire to compete with the best.

“I told my dad I wanted to play golf. I think I was seven or eight years old and thought, I want to do this thing. And he was like, OK, let’s go. Of course he was excited about it and said, ‘Okay, we’ll do it.’ The first golf competition I ever competed in was Drive, Chip and Putt, and I dominated every single category.”

Originally from Tulsa, Oklahoma, Ava moved to the area with her family after the pandemic. Even though the change was drastic, Ava was ready to get back on the road and begin her high school career.

“I was really different, you know, very different from Tulsa. But at the end of the day I look back and I wouldn’t be here, I probably wouldn’t be playing D1 golf if I had stayed in Tulsa. So I’m really grateful that I moved to Florida and was exposed to that tougher competition that pushed me to be better and inspired me a lot. I met so many cool people in those four years and am forever grateful that I moved.”

Ava Kight | Journey to state champion and DI commit

To cap off a successful high school career, Ava Kight and the South Walton Seahawks became state champions last month. This officially marks one of the biggest goals on Ava’s to-do list.

“I left the scoring room because I was the last one to finish and my whole team was there waiting for me and everyone said: We did it, we did it! My little sister was after me and had to come all the way to score. She sprinted back and said, “I ran as fast as I could and we all just hugged each other, it was so great.”

Ava and her younger sister Neely played together last season as a senior and freshman. And while the competition between the two is high 24/7, wearing the same colors for a season was a dream come true and something neither took for granted.

“It was by far the best year and I knew it was going to be that way. It was kind of exciting that I could look forward to playing on the same team with her, we were super close. We have to be roommates on the road and motivate and push each other like we always have.”

Now begins the next adventure for Ava, Division 1 golf at Southern Miss.

“It took a long time, or at least it felt that way to me, because it was something that I really cared about and that I was always, always working towards. The opportunity to achieve my goal and look forward to the next one definitely takes a big weight off my shoulders.”

“I’m looking forward to a lot of things, I’m looking forward to traveling and I’m looking forward to bringing a Golden Eagle to the top.”