HARLINGEN — More than 700 of the world’s top young golfers will be in attendance at this year’s Optimist International Junior Golf Championship and Mikey Bullock of Harlingen will be one of nine athletes representing the Lone Star State.
The tournament, which is scheduled to take place at the PGA National Resort & Spa in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, will run from July 18 to Aug. 2.
Mikey is the first golfer from the Rio GrandeValley to qualify for the prestigious event and will compete in the boys 14-15 age division. Along with Mikey, athletes from 42 states, six Canadian provinces and 23 total nations will also compete in the tournament.
Past winners include Ernie Els, Nancy Lopez, Davis Love III, Michelle McGann, Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods.
However, while Mikey might be the first athlete from the RGV to qualify in the event, he is the second in his family to do so. His mother, Wendy Werley Bullock, also qualified for the competition in 1980 and 1984.
Wendy, a LPGA Class A Teaching Professional, played in the 11-12 age division finishing sixth in 1980 when the Optimist event was played in San Diego, California. She also competed in 1984 in the 15-17-year old division where she had to qualify for the event just like Mikey did at the Lady Bird Golf Course in Fredericksburg where he posted a 77 to qualify.
Mikey started swinging a club at 15 months while watching his older cousin, Trey Werley, hit golf balls. At 2 years old he would go through a big pyramid of balls at Harlingen Country Club while his mom watched over him.
Mikey says that he idolizes both of his parents because he believes that he learns from them equally even though his mom is his “official” coach.
Through his mother’s teachings, Mikey elevated his game and now has a 2.4 handicap at their home course at Harlingen Country Club where his mother also teaches. Mikey is also playing in a parent/child event at the Optimist event with his dad.
Competitively, Mikey actually just started competing at age 12 where he did very well locally and played in a few South Texas PGA Championships in Houston where he also finished strong. Last year he only competed in two events and really decided this year to take it seriously. He has put a lot of time into his game and not only qualified for this event but played in San Antonio and Port Aransas in June where he had two 2nd place finishes and two 3rd’s in South Texas PGA events.
Mickey will have no time for rest after the Optimist event as he will begin preparing to play for the Harlingen High golf team once he gets back.
“I am very excited to take my game to the next level and start playing for the Cardinals as a freshman,” he said. “I think I will do very well if I just continue to focus on my game and keep listening to my mom.”
