43
From Buckeye to SC career
Boardman’s Alexis Romero coordinating golf tournaments at Hilton Head
By Curtis Pulliam
Sometimes in life you have to give up a dream to pursue another.
This was true for Alexis Romero.
The former Boardman Spartan (class of ’09) had to pick between playing golf and being involved in the Ohio State University professional golf management program.
Romero, who was only one of four women in the program (100 total) at OSU, graduated this year with her professional golf management degree and a minor in business.
Along the way, she completed five internships as part of the curriculum, including multiple ones at Harbortown Golf Links in Hilton Head Island, S.C.
After the internships, she was offered a full-time job as the tournament coordinator.
“I’m basically in charge of all the tournaments besides the RBC Heritage, our PGA tour event, played the week after the Masters,” Romero said.
Romero says she goes around and makes sure everything is running smoothly, from checking the scoreboard to making sure all the people are having a good time.
Despite having numerous talks with schools after districts of her senior year of high school, Romero felt the college golfing life was not for her.
“While I loved playing at the golf team at Boardman and being a competitor throughout the years, I couldn’t exactly see myself being happy playing in college,” said Romero, who started playing golf when she was 6.
Romero chose to go to Ohio State, the school she had grown to cheer for in her childhood.
“My dad [Ed] went to law school there,” Romero said. “He had introduced me to Ohio State at a very young age. He always joked ‘You can go to any school that you want, but know I’m sending my check to Ohio State.’”
She credited her dad for being a huge part of her life, driving her from golf tournaments to riding motorcycles together.
“My dad and I are close in that kind of way,” Romero said. “I’m very grateful for that.”
In addition to being an athlete, Romero was a great student, finishing top 10 percent of her class. She applied and received the Morrill scholarship (a minority scholarship) among other scholarships, giving her full tuition.
“I couldn’t turn that one down,” said Romero, who’s 50 percent Puerto Rican. “That definitely gave me a sense of security and direction. It was a huge breath of relief for me.”
And when Romero still has time, she likes to teach the game she loves.
“Overall, it’s been positive,” said Romero, talking about the Habortown experience. “The nice thing about living down here is that it’s a tourist community. They don’t have to feel guilty about trying to make the trip down because they’re automatically down here for vacation.”
Her father is overjoyed by his daughter’s success.
“I’m very proud,” he said. “My friends will tell you I keep them updated often about her accomplishments. Maybe more so than they would like.”
Although she does miss home sometimes, Romero is content for now.
Romero says she’s always been a planner but is unaware what lies ahead for her.
“I’m not sure exactly the next move that I’m going to make,” Romero said. “Working for any of the tours or the RBC Heritage would be nice.”
While proud, her father misses her being in the Valley.
“Her absence is noted,” Ed Romero said. “But it’s a process of growing up and leaving the nest.”