Jerel Whiting

College Profile

by Naimah Jabali-Nash

Martinsville, VA, about 170 miles west of Richmond, boasts that it is a “city with out limits.” It’s fitting that 20-year-old native golfer, Jerel Whiting, would live by that same creed. He had already accumulated over 100 trophies, was ranked sixth in Virginia, and competed in 20 states across the country before he graduated from Magna Vista High School — a staggering feat for any golfer. At 5’ 9’’ 145 lbs Whiting’s small stature may appear unassuming. But with a +1 handicap, he is a force to be reckoned with on the course.

Whiting began playing golf when he was 4-years-old with his father Brad Whiting at Lynwood Golf & Country Club. “I was pretty much self-taught. I would see things other people did and try it. The game came natural to me,” he said. In 1996 he joined Mason’s Army, a summer junior golf program in Washington D.C. that teaches the fundamentals of the game. For the next five years instructors Ernie Andrews and Felton Mason structured Whiting’s natural talent. “Jerel was one of the best students we had at Mason’s Army,” Andrews confessed. After a days practice the eight-year-old would spend countless hours on the driving range. Other days he brought the same dedication to practice rounds on the course or the putting green. Today his hard work has paid off. Jerel uses his TaylorMade Burner TP driver to drive the ball an average of 290 yards.

In 1997 Whiting traveled to New York City with other junior golfers and coach Rodney Lathern for the Tiger Woods Foundation Golf Clinic. He had the chance to meet and receive hands-on instruction from Tiger Woods. Woods told Whiting’s father that he hit the ball well enough to start competing in junior golf tournaments. Soon after, Whiting’s father took Woods’ advice.

Whiting joined the Lake Arbor Golf Course interclub team in Largo, MD later that year. He and his team traveled to local golf courses and competed in 18-hole match play tournaments. “Jerel’s success is wonderful, he has worked for it. I think the turning point was the lesson with Tiger Woods in New York,” said Lathern. “For his father to be there and hear from Tiger Woods himself what steps to take made a big difference.”

Amidst the praise Whiting remains humble. He’s not one to brag about his accomplishments. He simply wants to get better. “I enjoy competing, every tournament I’m trying to win,” Whiting nonchalantly said. “That’s what keeps me motivated, the competition and traveling around meeting new people.” The Bill Dickey Scholarship Association invited Whiting to participate in the 2002 Junior Golf Championship. He placed fifth in the 36-hole stroke play tournament posting 75-76 amongst a field of the most competitive minority junior golfers in the country. Whiting’s will to reach new heights lead him to the Bahamas in 2004. He traveled as part of the Langston Legacy team to compete against junior golfers ages 9-18.

Whiting is already staking his claim in collegiate golf history. As a sophomore at Virginia State University, he defended his Individual Medalist title in April 2008 at the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Championship hosted by The Cardinal Golf Club in Fort Lee,VA. His remarkable performance helped Virginia State conquer defending team champions, Fayetteville State University, as the Trojans team captured its first CIAA Championship in school history.

Whiting was five shots back with seven holes to play on the back nine. It was at this time that head coach, Jeff Hamilton, informed Whiting that they might actually have a chance at taking the CIAA title. “It gave me a little bit of motivation, I went and made two birdies in a row…and then I realized I actually had a chance,” he said. Whiting went on to birdie four of the last six holes to force a playoff with fellow teammates Kalani Britos and Joel Lynn (FSU), who both shot a two day score of 141 (-3). The players started the sudden death playoff on the par 4 tenth. Still tied they moved on to the eleventh hole, a par 5, where Whiting ended the playoff with a birdie and won the Individual Medalist for the CIAA.

“I was pretty excited because I won back to back years, but I was more excited that we won the CIAA Championship as a team for the first time,” Whiting recalled.

Shortly after his CIAA Championship win, he transferred to The University of Toledo enrolling in the Individual Studies Program in August 2008. He saw the move as another opportunity to challenge himself by competing against the top collegiate golfers in the nation. Whiting’s transition to a Division I institution has not been easy. He attends class from 9:00am to 1:00pm, followed by three hours of an intense practice regimen, and study hall. In the off season there are early morning workouts before class at 6:30 am.

His proven track record rivals some of the best amateur golfers in the nation. A prodigy in his own right, Jerel Whiting embodies confidence, stellar technique and poise that make him an intimidating opponent. “If I feel that I can take my game to the next level, then when I graduate I may try to qualify for one of the mini tours,” Whiting said. Only time will tell what the future holds for this two-time CIAA Champion. The course is the domain where his undeniable talent constantly rises to the surface, and like Martinsville, his future has no limits.