The drive to excel

2022 Yuma Sun/Yuma Rotary Club Boys Golf Player of the Year stallworth shoots for top 10 at state in 2023

For three years, Luke Stallworth of Yuma Catholic High School ran routes as a wide receiver for the Shamrocks varsity football team. He was also an avid hooper and enjoyed playing basketball.

Although he was initially introduced to the sport of golf by his father Blake and older brother Matthew, Stallworth says he just was not terribly interested in it. All of that changed just after his freshman year of high school had ended, and the rest as they say, is history.

“Once I finally got into golf, I started to enjoy the competitive aspect of it,” Stallworth tells The Yuma Sun. “I give a lot of credit to Matthew because he always tried to get me out on the course when I was younger, even when I didn’t want to play.”

One aspect of golf that appeals to the Yuma Catholic standout is the added responsibility of being involved in an individual sport. Unlike in football or