Begin Again

Last Monday morning, the day before the first round of Q-school, Rovonta (RJ) Young woke up to a text message from a friend. The message was a link to a news story about a devastating fire at an apartment complex in Huntsville. 

"Is this your complex?" the message read. 

It was his complex. Rovanta watched the video in the story multiple times trying to figure out if it was his building. A call to the leasing office confirmed the terrible news: it was his building – everything he owned was gone. 

Young called his best friend and co-worker at Huntsville Country Club, Will Smartt, and asked him to go to the apartment building to see what he could find out. Smartt immediately went to Young's apartment and asked the firefighters if he could get in. They wouldn't allow Smartt to enter; the building wasn't safe and they confirmed that his apartment was a total loss. Smartt told the firefighters about Young's 10-year-old python named Kaa, and asked if they would see if the snake survived. The firefighters went in and found Kaa alive. In this story’s only moment of levity, Smartt's girlfriend refused to have the snake in their house, so Kaa currently resides at Huntsville Country Club.

I called RJ after he finished his final round at Lake Caroline Golf Club, his first stage Q-school site, in Madison, Mississippi. He had started the final round 3-under through five holes to give himself a chance to advance to second stage. Young opened the tournament with a 66 in Round 1, but a 74 in Round 2 left him at even par and well outside the projected qualifying number. After a 1-under 69 in the third round, he needed some magic. His final round start gave him some hope, but the hole he found himself in was too deep. Young tried to block out thoughts of his apartment burning down and concentrate on Q-school, which proved impossible. 

A final round 67 left him three shots short of advancing. 

"My college trophies, college bags, launch monitor, college degree, family pictures, everything is gone." Young said. "It's just all so surreal." 

Young is headed back to Huntsville with an uncertain future. "I'm probably going to sleep at a friend's house. I'm not really sure." Young missed advancing through Q-school and the only things he owned were in the car with him: a week's worth of clothes, his clubs, and a few pairs of shoes. The reality of the situation was starting to hit him. He is facing another year grinding on the mini-tours, is out of money, and facing the challenge of starting over.

Young, 29, turned pro in 2018 and like many players, lives tournament to tournament. Young won an event on the APGA Tour in 2021 and played well this season. When he runs out of money, his family chips in to help him start again. He works part-time at Huntsville Country Club, which gives him a place to practice and earn a little money. Anything to keep the dream alive. 

Young's mother has spent her life in the military and is currently based in Germany. RJ lived with his grandparents as a child as his mother was moved from base to base. RJ wanted one place to call home, so he lived with his grandparents in California. RJ’s grandpa had also spent his life in the military. As a young kid, RJ got golf clubs for Christmas and fell in love with the game. His grandfather, who RJ calls his role model, taught him everything he knows. 

"I think I'll probably end up back with my grandparents," RJ said. When I asked if he still wanted to play professionally, he quickly answered, "Yes, for sure, I'm not quitting." 

As always, his family will be there to help. Rebuilding his life will start today. 

Rovonta Young's Venmo is below if you would like to help.