Missile student wins 2010 Air Force Golf Championship

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Steve Bauer
  • 30th Space Wing Public Affairs
A 392nd Training Squadron student here was the overall winner of the 2010 Air Force Golf Championship held at Langley Air Force Base, Va., on Nov. 26.

2nd Lt. Thomas Whitney, a native of La Quinta, won the four-day competition with a total (under par) score of 279.

"I felt honored and proud to be able to play in a competition like this," said Lieutenant Whitney. "I knew going into it that I would be one of the more competitive players given my experience from college golf, but I was just expecting to have fun and meet some great fellow servicemen. I am honored to carry the title of Air Force and Armed Forces golf champion."

More than 30 golfers from four branches of the United States military competed against one another at Langley's Eaglewood Golf Course.

"All of the players are greatly talented to be able to balance military careers while also honing the difficult skill of golf, and I just happened to walk away on top," said Lieutenant Whitney.

Lieutenant Whitney's father introduced him to the game of golf when he was seven years old.

"We just started hitting balls on the range and then I started playing in junior camps during the summers," he said. "I have been playing competitive golf ever since, to include four years of NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) Division I golf at the U.S. Air Force Academy."

During Lieutenant Whitney's stay at Vandenberg, he plans on entering professional golf outings with the Southern California-based Golden State Golf Tour and plans on practicing his game four to five days a week after his classes. One of his favorite practice locations is Vandenberg's Marshallia Ranch Golf Course.

"I really enjoy the golf facility at Marshallia Ranch," he said. "The course offers some great challenges that will help me continue to develop my skills while I am here."

Lieutenant Whitney is training at the 392nd TRS to become qualified as a deputy missile combat crew commander for his next assignment at F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyo.