Athlete of the Week: Connor Harmon

The boys golf team is loaded with talent at the varsity level. On any given day, a player can threaten to break par. 

Senior Connor Harmon has done more than threaten. He’s broken it. Harmon shot a one-under 35 on Friday in a match against Leyden and he did it again Wednesday against Hinsdale Central at Village Greens, shooting another 35 on the front nine. 

Harmon stands out from most golfers because he plays left-handed. Regardless of direction, he hits the ball remarkably well. 

How long have you been playing? I’ve been playing since I was about 4 or 5.

Was your family an influence? Definitely. My whole family apart from one sister plays golf. My sister — the one who plays golf — finished all-state and my dad has been helping me a lot.

Over the past year, do you think your game has improved any? I definitely think I’ve improved. My higher scores from last year don’t really show up and my summer average was about three strokes lower.

Even with all of that, do you think there is room for improvement? I think I could work on my driving accuracy and being a little straighter, sure.

Do you have a favorite course? My favorite … my favorite is Itasca Country Club. I shot one of my best rounds ever there. Very nice course.

Is there a golfer out on the pro tour you really like? I really like Bubba Watson because he’s a lefty, and I’m a lefty, and he’s the best shot maker out there on the course and I think I’m a pretty good shot maker, too.

And he’s got some real swagger out there, as well. Yeah, definitely. That’s something I like to see out there, that kind of attitude.

Do you participate in other sports or are you a one-sport person? I play tennis in the springtime.

Given any thought to college golf or schools? I know I can play college golf, but that’s something I’ll have to decide after the season. If I do play it’ll be Division III. I’m looking at schools like Milliken and Illinois-Wesleyan, but I haven’t decided.

From a team perspective, it seems like several can go out there and threaten par. How far do you think this team can go? We can go as far as our top guys can take us. I think we can go to state. We have to get at the right time. We’ve shot some very low scores and some very high scores, but it all depends on us getting hot at the right time.