Pandemic Pastime to Competitive Passion: Cadence Monroe-McCoy’s Golf Evolution
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SPRINGFIELD, OHIO — What began as a casual pastime during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic has evolved into a standout golf career for the Northwestern Jr/Sr High School junior .
Starting in August 2020, introduced to the game by her father, Cadence quickly found her stride on the course. In just a few years, her dedication has earned her a string of accomplishments, including three consecutive Southern Ohio PGA (SOPGA) Girls 13-15 Player of the Year titles from 2022 through 2024.
Among her many highlights is a victory at the 2023 SOPGA Junior Championship, held at the prestigious Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio. That same course remains her favorite to play. She has also competed in the Junior Ohio Ryder Cup for the 2023 and 2024 seasons, an event hosted by the SOPGA and the Northern Ohio PGA, allowing her to compete alongside fellow junior golfers from across the state.
Her game preparation is consistent and purposeful. Upon arrival at the range, she begins with a 5–10 minute stretch, then warms up by hitting from her 58-degree wedge through to her driver. Final adjustments are made on the chipping and putting greens to fine-tune her short game before competition.
Her bag is stocked with high-performance equipment, including a 425 Ping Driver, TaylorMade QI10 woods (4, 7, and 9), Mizuno Pro irons from 5-iron through gap wedge, Callaway Raw Jaws 54- and 58-degree wedges, and an Odyssey blade putter.
Throughout the summer months, Monroe-McCoy competes on multiple junior tours, including the SOPGA Junior Tour, Golfweek Junior Tour, and Hurricane Junior Tour. Recent performances include a first-place finish at the Lady Falcon Invitational at Lakeland Golf Club, a second-place finish at the Lady Arrow Invitational at Sugar Isle, and victories in conference matches against Indian Lake and Graham.
Her consistency extends into the high school season, where she has helped lead her team to Sectionals and Districts during both her freshman and sophomore years. Her personal best scores include a 37 for nine holes and a 79 for 18 — both achieved in competitive settings.
Beyond the scores and trophies, the sport has influenced her character, helping her grow in areas like sportsmanship and building meaningful connections with others. While her journey has included many memorable moments, one of the most unexpected came in the form of a large snapping turtle found lounging on the 18th green of the South Course at Reid Park Golf Course in Springfield.
With a growing list of medals, plaques, and championships to her name, she now sets her sights on the next chapter: playing competitive golf at the collegiate level. As she begins that pursuit, she identifies one person she would want by her side as a caddie — Alex Heban, the Junior Golf and Operations Manager for the SOPGA Junior Tour.
Driven by discipline, passion, and a love for the game, this junior golfer is proving that what started as a pandemic pastime can turn into a powerful pursuit of excellence.
