Breaking News
Local Sports

YOUNG PHENOM: South Williamsport 13-year-old McGinn making waves in golf

By GARRETT CARR 6 min read

Many say that golf is the hardest game in the world. South Williamsport thirteen-year-old Logan McGinn often makes it look quite easy. McGinn, who is getting ready to head into the eighth grade at South Williamsport Junior-Senior High School, has established himself as one of the best junior golfers in the world and one of the best players in Pennsylvania at any age.

"He just really loves the game," Nicole McGinn, Logan's mom said. " He's always had an interest in sports and being the best he can be and whatever sport he plays or even in the classroom. I think it's a sense of pride for him to succeed and give it his all."

That love for the game has led to McGinn being ranked in the top fifteen in the country in the class of 2030 according to the American Junior Golf Association, which hosts many of the top junior golf events nationwide. He sports a handicap better than scratch, an accomplishment that roughly 1% of all golfers ever reach. While watching him play makes it seem like the game is quite easy for him, it's taken a lot of hard work to get this good this fast.

"I started chipping and putting when I was around 2," Logan, who played his first real round of golf two years later, said. Soon after, he was completely hooked on the game, good enough to win a Callaway Junior World Championship in the 8U division back in 2020.

For many, a win like that would've started dreams of playing high-level college and professional golf. But, Logan had been thinking big like that far before his first big win.

"(The win) didn't really change much. I just kept practicing and my goals stayed the same," he said.

Fast forward five years, and he's established himself as a force to be reckoned with. While his length off the tee is a very good 240-250 yards, considering his age, his strength is his short game. McGinn can hit a variety of shots around the greens, has an advanced understanding of golf course architecture and topography, and can think his way around a golf course in a way that those many multiples of his age cannot.

"Usually I'm at or around a 60% up-and-down (conversion rate), which is right around (PGA) Tour Average," Logan said.

In May, Logan played in a US Open Local Qualifying Event at York Country Club. While he wasn't able to advance to the next round of qualifying in the hopes of playing in one of professional golf's four major championships, which was held this year at Oakmont Country Club outside of Pittsburgh, he played quite the round. He fired a 75, putting him in a tie for 25th as the youngest player in the field, with the average age of player over twice his age. He finished just one shot back of World Long Drive Champion Kyle Berkshire, and just six shots back of the final qualifying spot for regional qualifying.

He also qualified for one of the most prestigious amateur events on the east coast. In late June, he qualified for the 121st Philadelphia Open Championship. McGinn missed the cut at the event, but just getting there was quite the accomplishment for a player of his age.

While most of his peers in elite junior golf are single-sport athletes, McGinn breaks the mold. He cut down from four sports to three this past school year, forgoing football. But, he still plays basketball and baseball, and is pretty good at those, too. Playing other sports helps his golf game.

"Probably staying focused, even if I'm not playing well, because, like, even if, like, in baseball, if we're down, five runs after the first inning, we've come back and won that game before, yeah. I know that I can flip the switch at any point," he said.

Golf is a family affair for the McGinn family. His dad, Paul, one of Lycoming County's all-time leading high school scorers on the hardwood, is a solid player in his own right and serves as Logan's coach, allowing the family to save plenty of money on expensive lessons with top coaches. And, his three-year-old sister, Laney, is starting to play as well. Nicole is there for plenty of tournament rounds, as well, and they travel together when they can.

Expenses can add up fast. Paul has sacrificed his own golf membership to Williamsport Country Club so that they can afford a golf membership for Logan to play and practice as much as he needs to. In the summer, that means at least a few hours of practice essentially every day, and a few rounds a week in between time spent at the club pool. But, the traveling expenses and tournament fees can add up. According to Paul, it's all worth it.

"Some people will be like, 'well, it's stupid. You should be putting money towards saving for college.' But, he's already got Division I Colleges looking at him. He's going to go to school for free, between golf and academics. He's a straight-A, Junior National Honor Society student," Paul said.

As for college, those recruiting conversation are all of a sudden in the not-so-distant future. NCAA rules, aside from a few exceptions, allow college coaches to contact prospective student athletes on June 15 prior to their junior year. So, for Logan, who is in the Class of 2030, that means that his phone will be buzzing with coaches from across the nation on June 15, 2028. And, Logan has already thought about where he'd love to play college golf, with the University of North Carolina being his top choice.

After that, his goal, a very achievable one given his sensational talent and drive to succeed, is to play on the PGA Tour, with winning The Masters as the championship he'd most like to win. McGinn actually participated in an event at Augusta National Golf Club, as he qualified for the 2023 Drive, Chip, and Putt event held at Augusta National each year prior to the tournament.

It truly seems like the sky is the limit for Logan McGinn.

Starting at /week.