PREP GOLF: Wynn shoots for the pros

Mike Wynn has helped The Meadows school win three state titles

Mike Wynn, a senior-to-be at The Meadows school, has played golf at Augusta National Golf Club, home of The Masters, and several other of the top golf courses in the country, thanks to his uncle, casino developer Steve Wynn.

Mike Wynn could return to those same elite courses in the future on his own merits, though, as he is virtually a scratch golfer with his sights set on a college scholarship and a possible professional career.

"I definitely want to play golf in college and see what happens from there," Wynn said. "Hopefully that will be a possibility."

Trevor Derrheim, who has tutored Wynn on the links for more than two years, along with a couple of current players at Stanford University, said Wynn has what it takes to play at the next level.

"He wants to be a Division I college player, and I really like his chances," he said. "I'd put him head to head with the best kids in the city, for sure. He's grown quite a bit the last couple years, he's gotten a lot stronger, he hits the ball a long way and he works hard in practice."

Wynn, who competed in the recent AJGA Las Vegas Founders Junior Golf Championship at Angel Park, where he shot an even-par 72 in the final round, helped lead Meadows to three straight state golf titles.

He averaged 73 strokes per 18-hole match this year and fired a 69 in the second round of the state tournament, in which he placed third. He shot a school-record 3-under par 69 to medal at a league match at Palm Valley and fired an even par 72 to capture the Southern 2A zone title at Highland Falls.

He finished fourth in the state as a sophomore and sealed The Meadows' state title his freshman year, when the match came down to the final two golfers and he came through with the score the Mustangs needed.

The Meadows won state by 65 strokes this past season and by 24 strokes last year, but only won by five strokes Wynn's freshman year.

"We were tied going into the last day, and I was the last guy for my team and it came down to my score," he said. "We needed a certain score and I shot it. That was the most gratifying (win)."

Wynn, who has a 3.1 grade-point average, also helped lead The Meadows to a state basketball title this season. A point guard who averaged more than seven points and seven assists per game, Wynn said winning state on the hardwood was more rewarding than on the links.

"Even though golf is what I want to do, basketball might've been the most gratifying," he said. "In golf, we expected to win, but in basketball there were three or four good teams, and we played our rivals."

Wynn plays golf every day, primarily at TPC at Summerlin, his home course. He competes in several junior golf events each week and recently entered a U.S. Junior Amateur qualifier, firing a 32 over nine holes in a practice round.

He was disappointed to shoot rounds of 76 and 75 at Angel Park Golf Club during the recent AJGA event there.

"I wanted to try to shoot under par. I hit the ball the way I wanted to but I didn't make enough putts," he said. "I really could've shot 69 or 70 every day, but my putting let me down. Putting has always been my weakness.

"In high school, it came around pretty well, but I struggled the last month or so. I'm striking the ball pretty well."

Derrheim, who teaches out of DragonRidge Country Club in Henderson, said Wynn's practice habits have improved, along with his confidence and consistency.

"He's just now learning to practice better, on things that will make him a better player down the road," he said. "He's come to terms with being consistent day in and day out and his golf swing has gotten a lot better. He's more consistent and confident and he's going to continue to get better."

Wynn was introduced to the game by his father, Kenn Wynn. Mike Wynn said he started taking the game seriously when he turned 13 and shot his first round under par at age 15. He broke par in a tournament for the first time last year, when he shot a 1-under par 71 in an AJGA tournament at Boulder Creek Golf Club.

Wynn sometimes plays golf with his father and his uncle, who he said both shoot in the 80s now but used to shoot lower scores.

"(My father) used to be a lot better, but he works a lot and doesn't have as much time," Mike said. "(My uncle) actually doesn't have great eyesight, but in the last year to 18 months, he's tried to pick the game up again.

"There's nothing wrong between us, but I mainly see him for family occasions. I definitely don't talk to him all the time. He'll take me out to Shadow Creek to golf or out to dinner with my dad. It definitely has a lot of benefits. I feel very privileged."

While Wynn may not see his uncle often, he always has to carry the weight of his family name. He was recently heckled at the event at Angel Park.

"Sometimes I get annoyed. People ask me to get them jobs," he said. "Sometimes it's frustrating and it gets a little bothersome, but it's nothing I can't handle. It works out good in the end."

Derrheim said Wynn handles pressure well.

"He's an outstanding kid and he has a real big heart," he said.

Wynn said he'd consider a job working for his uncle if his golf career doesn't pan out, but he'd prefer to stay involved with sports.

"If pro golf doesn't work out, I could end up doing something like that, but I'd like to do something in sports," he said. "All my life, I've always been a sports fanatic."


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