Team Trezevant: (left to right) Sam McClenton (senior), Dimonte Sandivol (sophomore), Aaron Jones (freshman), Antionette Burdette (freshman), Desmond Brown (senior), Ashley Burdette (sophomore), Martina Carey (junior), Karneshia Collins (senior), AshlonSpinks (freshman); not pictured: Marquail Paige (senior), Quinton Wicks (senior), Christopher Jones (junior), Trentell Razor (freshman). Kneeling is the team’s coach, Mark LeSure. (Photos by Shirley Jackson)

The golf program at Trezevant High School began in 2007. Then-principal Denise Keys-Johnson purchased three sets of golf clubs and approximately 20 sets were donated by friends and Bellevue Baptist Church.

Officer Anthony Mark LeSure (right) directs the golf program at Trezevant High School, along with assistance from LTC (RET) Walleon Bobo.

Trezevant golf team captain Martina Carey, a junior, has played for two years. In the 2009 City Championship, Carey shot the lowest score of both boys and girls. “I was inspired to play because people think golf is a white person’s sports and wanted to prove otherwise,” said Carey.

Today, there are trophies and placards attesting to a string of accomplishments, including 2007, 2008, 2009 District Champs (Boys); 2008, 2009 Boys City Champs; 2008, 2009 District Champs (Girls); 2008, 2009 Girls City Champs; 2009 Girls City Champ (Martina Carey).

The Trezevant golf team’s motto is “Excellence is the standard and failure is a thing of the past.” Pull any one member aside and he or she will eagerly share excitement about the sport of golf.

“It is a great stress reliever after a long, hard school day,” said Antionette Brudette, an 11th  grader.

Trentell Razor, a 9th grader, said the game “takes my mind off stuff. It is not boring like I thought it would be. Once you learn the technique of hand and feet coordination, you are in the game.”

Team co-captain Desmond Brown has played golf for two years. He was inspired by his aunt, who had custom golf clubs made for him. “The game is very relaxing and you have to be able to think about what you are doing,” said Brown, who placed 3rd in the District in the A-AA Division for the boys.

Trezevant’s golf coach is Officer Anthony Mark LeSure, who is assisted by LTC (RET)Walleon Bobo. Coach LeSure, who is also one of the Tri-State Defender’s 2009 Men of Excellence, said, “This program by far is my greatest accomplishment because we have exposed inner-city youth to a game that we have been excluded from in the past.

“The game also provides our children with another avenue to obtaining a college scholarship. Many Div-1 schools are offering full-ride scholarships to minority students in golf, tennis and baseball.”

LeSure said he has discovered that he is a better golf coach than a player.

“I began playing after a football injury in 1988. Major General Paige at Ft. Huachuca, Arizona purchased my first set of clubs and encouraged me to leave football alone and I have been playing every since.”