Ellie Anderson, a key member of the Riverton girls golf team, is a multi-sport athlete, but golf wasn’t always on her radar. 

A senior, Anderson is the No. 1 golfer for the Silverwolves and a player who head coach Peter Fong calls “the most improved player” on the team. Remarkably, however, Anderson didn’t even start playing competitively until her junior season last year. Heading into her junior season, she had only started golfing at all a few months before. 

Anderson was a quick learner. 

The athletic Anderson also plays soccer and basketball. In fact, she may have never even tried golf had it not been for a knee injury that sidelined her from playing these other sports. While recovering, she took up golf. She quickly took to the new activity and discovered she had natural talent for it. She loves the competition and the chance to learn from other players. 

“I love the opportunity to get better and play with some really good players,” she said. 

At Riverton, Anderson has found a family-like atmosphere on the girls golf team. She enjoys being with the other players on and off the course. She said “hanging out” with the team is the most enjoyable part about being on the Silverwolves’ team. Together, the girls have built good team unity and cohesion. The girls support one another and encourage everyone to get better. 

Any golfer will say that golf can be a mentally challenging game. It can also be frustrating and pressure filled. Anderson said one of her best traits is that she keeps a level head and maintains her composure when it would be easy to get down on herself because of a missed shot or off day. 

“My biggest strength is the ability to stay calm during difficult situations,” she said. “Golf can be tough. If I don’t hit the shot I want, it can be easy to get down on myself. I’ve started working to stay more positive throughout the entire round, even if things don’t go how I want them to go. I’ve seen that as I am more positive, it helps me play better.”

As a senior, yet still a new golfer, Anderson continued to work hard throughout the year to improve various aspects of her game. She recognized a need to get better with her putts and short game in general. Refining this area helped her drop scores. Anderson also wanted the Silverwolves to make it to the second day of the Class 6A state tournament. As for herself, she wasn’t looking to finish at a certain place at state or achieve a specific score. Rather, Anderson simply wanted to get better each day so she could end each practice and match knowing that she gave it her all.

The next stop for Anderson will be Brigham Young University where she plans on continuing her education and pursuing a degree. Fong and the rest of the Riverton girls golf team will miss her presence, including her example on and off the course. λ