North Shore Golf SPRING 2023

18 >>> SPRING 18 >>> 2023 SPRING 2023
SHOOTING STARS
LEO SU
Age: 11
Town: Ipswich
Grade: 6, British International School of Boston
Club: Rowley CC
2022 Junior Tour record: 31 events, — 6 wins, 7
seconds and 9 thirds.
Favorite player: Rory McIlroy
DALILA MEYERS
Age: 13
Town: Danvers
Grade: 8, Holten Richmond Middle School
Club: Ferncroft CC
2022 Junior Tour record: 12 events — 10 firsts, 2
seconds
Favorite player: Rory McIlroy
Leo may be short in stature, but his golf talents are huge.
The only child of Joe and Lucy Su is the reigning Player
of the Year in the NEPGA Junior Tour’s 9-hole 13-andyounger
division. Leo played in 31 events in 2022, and
finished in the top 10 in every one, with 22 of those being
in the top three. His best rounds were 39s in Tour events
at Beverly G&TC and Reedy Meadow. He also competes in
PGA Junior League team events.
Leo accepted an invitation to compete in the boys age
12-13 division this season, which means he’ll play all 18
holes. “My scoring goal is to shoot 10-over or so,” he said.
Looking ahead, he hopes to play high school and college
golf. Though he’s just 11, he’s intrigued by playing on the
pro tour.
His dad introduced him to golf when the family was
living in China. The two spent time at driving ranges and
practicing chipping and putting.
Brent Balderston, Rowley’s head PGA professional, and
Leo have become a formidable team.
Leo took lessons from other professionals, but he and
Balderston just clicked from day one.
“One day after a lesson, he was seven or eight at the time,
I was putting the carts away and Leo came to me and asked
‘I wanted to know if you’ll be my coach.’ He’s a very good
player and he’s a hard worker.”
“I’ve worked with a lot of kids through the years, Leo is
special. He’s fun, funny, silly and energetic. His parents
don’t speak much English, and he and they are comfortable
with me.”
At the start of their partnership, Balderston, as an
incentive, told Leo if he had a good lesson they’d play
one hole afterward. Balderston, a lefty, plays righty. That
evolved into “cross-country golf.” What’s that? They might
tee off from the 6th tee box and try to get the ball on the 7th
green. Or drive from Rowley’s 1st tee, but hit their second
shots toward the 9th green.
“I love cross-country golf,” said Leo, with a smile.
Rory McIlroy is his favorite PGA player. Maybe someday
he’ll challenge Rory to a round of cross-country golf.
Dalila has shown considerable improvement in her three
years on the NEPGA Junior Tour. Last year, she won the
Tour Championship at Highlands GC in Grafton, shooting
a 13-over 85. Dalila was runner-up for Player of the Year
to Addison Cutting of Shrewsbury in her age group (Girls
13-and younger, which plays 9-hole rounds).
Dalila’s best round was a 37 at Reedy Meadow in
Lynnfield. This year she jumps into the competitive Girls
14-18 age group, which plays 18 holes.
For the interview and photo shoot, she proudly brought
along 10 medals she was awarded, one for each of her firstplace
finishes on the Junior Tour.
The daughter of Jay and Tina Meyers, Dalila also plays
field hockey, softball and basketball. Her older brother
Dominic, 16, is a member of St. John’s Prep golf team and
previously participated in the Junior League program with
great success.
A straight-A student, she will attend Malden Catholic
High School in the fall and play on its golf team. She has a
Ferncroft junior membership.
Dalila said she first picked up a golf club at age 6 or 7.
“Our house has always been filled with golf clubs. (Jay is
a manager at Golfer’s Warehouse in Danvers.). My dad is
a really good teacher. He’s taught me a lot, not just that
golf is a skill game but it’s a mental game. He puts me
in the right mindset. And my mom is so supportive and
understanding.”
Her earliest rounds were played at Middleton GC, which
closed in March 2019. “I loved Middleton. I miss it.” Golf
clinics at Atkinson Resort & CC with instruction by Brian
Diamond got the ball rolling. She’s had the opportunity
to play Salem CC and Winged Foot in New York, two of
America’s greatest courses.
She started with the NEPGA Junior Tour at age 11. “It
was challenging, not knowing all the courses,” she said.
Dalila’s goals for 2023: “I want to improve on the mind
parts of golf, and consistency with my swings.” She plays
on Ferncroft’s PGA Junior League team, mostly with friend
Allie Miller, and hopes to play college golf.