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Academy Blog

Q&A with Fischer Leggitt

Q & A with RGA player Fischer Leggitt and RGA coach Josh Apple

Fischer Leggitt is a junior at Briar Woods High School, currently holds a +1.7 handicap, and has had a 2023 season highlighted by qualifying for the MAPGA Capital Cup and the VSGA Junior Stroke Play Championship.

Q: How long have you been playing golf?
A: I’ve been playing the game for about eight years but I started seriously practicing and getting into lessons about 2 ½ to three years ago. Ever since I started taking it seriously my game has really taken off.

Q: When did you start playing in tournaments?
A: I started playing tournament golf when I was 14, playing in US Kids and MAPGA events.

Q: What has been your experience with the Raspberry Golf Academy?
A: When I was little I worked with Sang (Hwang) doing his group programs, so I’ve been around RGA for a while. But I took a break for a bit and then came back to work with RGA.

Q: How has your game leveled up this year?
A: My game took a really big jump in the middle of the summer. I went from shooting in the 80s consistently in tournaments to the mid 70s and then I shot my low of 71 at the Capital Cup Qualifier. I just kept getting better, and then I shot a 69 in the VSGA Junior Stroke Play Qualifier and 69 in other high school tournaments.

Q: What are you most proud of from this year?
A: The biggest for me was the Capital Cup Qualifier. And then the Virginia team won the Capital Cup and I won two of my matches, so that was big. Of course qualifying for the VSGA Stroke Play. And I had another tournament at the Naval Academy, the Billy Hurley, which I placed ninth, that was big too.

Q: To what do you attribute the success?
A: Overall I started working harder as I got more into the game, and I got more out of my game obviously. And then working with RGA on gaining distance and building my swing to my body to have distance and control at the same time, and then also learning to play my shot whether it’s a draw or a fade.

Q: You have the O Personality type, what does that mean to you?
A: O Mode for me is not over-thinking and playing within myself. When I get to a shot, I get the information I need but after that my mind goes blank other than focusing on where I want the ball to finish. When I am in between shots, don’t think about the last shot and just move on.

Q: What are you proud of mentally?
A: I’m proud of committing to it. Sometimes it gets hard and you want to quit, but you have to stick to it and eventually you get back up. You have those ebbs and flows, but I’ve gotten back up.

Q: What are you currently working on?
A: Right now I’m working on building my core and stability so I don’t dip down in my swing as much.

Q: Anything from lessons with Sang you still use today?
A: I still use my routine, my routine has been huge for me.

Q: Do you have a background in any other sports?
A: I played baseball my whole life up until freshman year of high school and I’ve played rec basketball for fun.

Q: Do you have a short-term goal and a long-term goal?
A: Short term over this winter I want to place top-20 or even top-10 at the Donald Ross in Pinehurst. Long term I want to play at an elite Division I school.

Q: Why should someone go to the Raspberry Golf Academy?
A: Go to Raspberry because there are coaches who fit what they do to your type of play and your personality. Also there’s a lot of good players around that you can learn from, you want to learn from people who are better than you because that makes you better.

Josh Apple RGA Coach of the Year

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Congratulations to Josh Apple on being named the 2020 Coach of the Year! Josh had an outstanding year as a coach and player, earning him this Raspberry Golf Academy inaugural honor.

In 2020 Josh became a Class A PGA Member, completing a journey that took over four years. The membership process involves playing tests, written tests, online portfolios, and three trips to the PGA headquarters for in-person training. We are proud to have another PGA member within our ranks.

Josh coached seven days most weeks throughout the year, giving approximately 1,700 private lessons in that span. He also served as the Captain of the PGA Junior League, devoting himself to the junior golf development program at Virginia Golf Center.

Two of Josh’s students signed to play Division I collegiate golf, both going to Towson University. This was his first of many recruiting classes, adding to the rich tradition of college golfers among RGA students.josh apa

As a player, Josh had a successful 2020 campaign competing in the Middle Atlantic PGA circuit, finishing Top-10 in 10/11 events. His top highlights were a victory in the Assistant Pro Association Tour Championship at Creighton Farms, and a runner-up finish in the MAPGA Match Play Championship played at Fawn Lake and Belle Haven.

Beyond lessons, Josh was able to combine his golf and writing skills by becoming the Instruction Editor for the Virginia Golfer Magazine, the official publication of the Virginia State Golf Association. He also serves as the social media manager for the Raspberry Golf Academy platforms, which includes a regular video instruction series on YouTube. He values sharing his knowledge with as many people as possible.

Congrats again to Josh on a great year!

Follow the link here to connect to his bio.

Four RGA Students Qualify for the 2018 U.S. Amateur

Four RGA Students Qualify for the 2018 U.S. Amateur
By Josh Apple

The U.S. Amateur is the world’s biggest stage for amateur golf competition, and simply earning a spot in the field is a lifelong dream for many. Past champions include Bryson DeChambeau, Ryan Moore, Matt Kuchar, Phil Mickelson, and of course Tiger Woods, who won three consecutive times in the mid-1990’s. For the Raspberry Golf Academy to have even one student qualify for the field would be impressive, but RGA students have been beyond impressive in 2018, the 10-year anniversary of the academy.

Brandon Weaver, Connor Messick, and Ryan Smith each qualified for the men’s championship, which will be held at Pebble Beach Golf Links and Spyglass Hill Golf Course from August 13-19, and Katie Reilly qualified for the women’s championship, which will be contested at The Golf Club of Tennessee from August 6-12.

RGA brandon weaver blogBrandon Weaver is a member of the Longwood University golf team and has been working with RGA Director of Instruction John Miller since he was in high school. Under Miller’s guidance, Brandon’s golf career skyrocketed in high school, winning the state championship back-to-back years. That success has carried over to his collegiate career as well, as he won the Manor Intercollegiate this past season, Longwood’s home event.

Brandon played his 36-hole U.S. Amateur qualifier at James River Country Club in Newport News, Va. on July 10th, and fired incredible scores of 64-67 (-9) to finish in second place, just one shot back of first. That particular qualifying site had over 70 competitors but took just two spots, giving Brandon the second spot.

“I played super consistent, my ball striking was good.  I was hitting it in the right spots, giving myself good putts. I was really strong off the tee.  That course is really tight and I was able to put it in the right spots,” Brandon said.

Immediately following his strong qualifying performance, Brandon had a solid showing at the Eastern Amateur, one of the strongest amateur events on the East coast. He finished 22nd with scores of 69-69-67-72 (-3) over the four rounds from July 12-15.

“It all hasn’t really sunk in yet because as soon as I qualified I had to go the Eastern and stay focused,” Brandon said. “I’m pretty excited though to go out to Pebble and to play Spyglass too, which I’ve heard is even better.  I can’t wait to get out there in August.  It’s going to be so much fun.”

Connor Messick  blogConnor Messick recently concluded his career as a member of the University of Virginia golf team, and will be playing for George Mason in the fall as a graduate student transfer. He has been a student of RGA for two years, and has seen great success in amateur tournaments since joining the RGA team.

Connor played his 36-hole U.S. Amateur qualifier at the Country Club of Woodmore in Mitchellville, Md. on July 17th, and shot 73-69 (-2) to finish is second place. This qualifying site took five spots with a larger field competing for the honor.

“My main goal this summer was to get prepared to qualify for the U.S. Am with the help of my coach, and that is what we did,” Connor said. “I’m looking forward to getting out there and making the most of this incredible opportunity.”

Both Brandon and Connor made the cut in the Virginia State Open at Ballyhack Golf Club in Roanoke, held from July 19-21. Brandon finished T40 and Connor finished T44 in the strong 144-player field.

smith3 blogRyan Smith elevated the bar to three RGA participants in the 2018 men’s U.S. Amateur when he shot scores of 71-69 (-4) in his 36-hole qualifier on July 23 at Hayfields Country Club in Cockeysville, Md. The rising high school junior lives in California but is originally from Leesburg, Va., and has worked with RGA since he first learned how to hold a golf club.

Under McGuire’s guidance, Ryan has steadily been one of the top junior golfers in the nation. Prior to qualifying for the U.S. Amateur, Ryan reached the Round of 16 in the 2018 U.S. Junior Amateur, held at Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield, N.J. from July 16-21. Having already proved himself in junior golf competition, he will have chance to breakout on the amateur scene at Pebble Beach.

Ryan has committed to play college golf at the University of North Carolina in 2020.

Katie Reilly claimed one of three spots in the big event by shooting 70 (-2) at Glenmore Country Club in Keswick, Va. on July 2nd, when she managed to go 6-for-6 on up-and-down opportunities. Katie also works with McGuire and has seen her game progress through his teaching.

“I definitely wouldn’t have gotten here without all your help over the years,” Katie said.

Be sure to follow Brandon, Connor, and Ryan at Pebble Beach and Katie at The Golf Club of Tennessee next month as they look to grow their name on the big stage, and check back in for more updates from RGA as we celebrate the 10-year anniversary!