Miller’s Presten Richardson has had quite a bit of success on the golf course over the years.
Richardson is using his experience to mentor one of the best 12-year-old golfers in the world.
Presten Richardson has been a golfer almost his whole life.
“I started really young,” said Presten Richardson.
He hasn’t stopped grooming his game since. “When I was able to play on my own my game took off,” he said. “It went from trying to be the best at my little nine-hole course in Mount Vernon, to trying to win junior tournaments around Southern Missouri.”
He went on to win a high school state title for Miller, and now plays Division I golf at Oral Roberts.
A few years ago, he met Landon Nichols.
“My dad and his dad played softball together,” Presten said. “Through junior golf, Landon’s dad knew who I was, and he reached out through my dad to see if I could come out and play with Landon a round or two. I was like ‘Yeah, I’ll go out and play with him.’ Came out here and I was like, ‘Oh, this kid’s actually really good.’”
Landon’s not your normal 12-year-old.
“I normally come out here and practice every day and spend time putting, hitting balls, playing some holes,” said Landon.
He’s won more than 100 tournaments nationwide and has five holes-in-one.
“I never had the accuracy that he has. Hitting way above the average fairways and hitting it as straight as he does, I’ve seen that in very few junior golfers,” Presten said.
The two play together every couple of weeks in the Summer.
“I had a six-iron shot and I go up to it and I don’t feel confident about it and he’s just ‘You just have to be confident,’” Landon said.
Landon takes a few tips from Presten, but Presten says he also has plenty to learn from Landon.
“His mental composure is what I learned from him. It’s the reason he’s probably had the success he’s had,” Presten said.
They hardly ever play against each other.
“We usually team up and take it to this course and the members out here, usually don’t give them a chance,” Presten said.
As Landon grows up, he hopes to join Presten’s team as a caddie, but Presten knows one day the roles will reverse.
“I think I’ll be on the bag for him too,” Presten said.
They both learn from each other on the golf course, but perhaps the biggest benefit from this friendship is Landon learning what it takes to be a high-level golfer. Presten is already playing Division I golf and one day Landon says he wants to play Division I, and hopefully play professionally.
