Since 1915, the Southwestern Amateur has grown into the longest running regional amateur tournament in the southwestern United States, and has seen multiple champions go onto successful PGA Tour careers. 2021 saw the inaugural Women’s Championship held at Desert Mountain alongside the Men’s, hosting a max field of 72 amateur women golfers.
This year, Desert Mountain and the Southwestern Amateur will welcome a full field of 144 top amateur men and women golfers from around the world at Outlaw Golf Course – 29 US states and 15 countries will be represented. USGA Four-Ball champions, US Open and US Women’s Open participants, All-Conference collegiate players and Rolex Junior All-Americans will each seek to put themselves among the best in the amateur ranks.
One name within the Southwestern Amateur field list is one of Desert Mountain’s very own. To date, she carries a resume of 21 event wins, 28 top-5 finishes and is a 3x IMG World Championship Qualifier. As well, she is the reigning Overall Champion at Desert Mountain’s 2025 Ladies’ Club Championship.
And she’s just 14 years old.
Addison “Addy” Taylor has been around golf since she first picked up a set of plastic clubs at the age of 4. In the four years since she entered (and won) her first tournament at the age of 10, she has racked up enough trophies and awards to fill up a room at the Taylor’s home.
This will be Addy’s first experience in the Southwestern Amateur. Even if she has already set a precedent of showing up and winning the first time, she is mindful of the competition she will be up against. While adding one more to the trophy case would certainly be an accomplishment, Addy knows the experience itself is one to learn greatly from, no matter the outcome.
“My goal isn’t to really win,” Addy said. “I just want to have fun and hopefully learn a few things to see where I can improve. It’s really fun to play against some of the best amateur golfers in the world as a 14-year-old – that’s the kind of stuff I dream about.”
Her preparation for this tournament will be just like any other. She works out with her trainer twice a week, then heads off to the range and has a weekly session with her swing coach, Rob Rashell, who has been a part of Addy’s journey for four years.
A practice setting is one thing, but a true tournament situation is another. This is where her victory at the Desert Mountain Ladies’ Club Championship comes in handy.
Playing the final round with the previous two champions, 2024 Champion Suzi Spotleson and 2023 Champion Mia Yohe, Addy found herself tied with Ms. Spotleson heading into the back nine at Geronimo Golf Course. Being the experienced and heady 14-year-old she is, Addy sunk a few crucial birdies in the closing holes to help seal the win.
She said she knew the finish line was near, but still didn’t know exactly how close. She also had to fight through the elements that gave all golfers a mix of everything. Rain, wind and even a bit of snow all appeared throughout the three days, adding to the challenge. The variety of tests thrown her way ultimately gave her a valuable lesson heading into the Southwestern Amateur.
“I was really excited to win,” Addy said. “There are so many great golfers here and being able to compete against them was really fun. It took a lot of patience to get it done. I knew there was still a lot of golf to be played, so I just trusted the work I put in and know that I have the game to do something special.”
That level of patience and trust will be a big key for the Southwestern and all other tournaments she will enter. Not just to put herself in the best position to win, but also knowing she will be one of the younger competitors in the field. Up to now, Addy has always been one of, if not, the youngest golfer in any tournament she’s played. But that’s something that is never on her mind while playing. If anything, she thrives on it.
“When I’m in the middle of it, I don’t really think about it,” Addy said. “I just try and focus on playing my best golf. It is fun to see where I am against the other players and learn something from them, but it does motivate me to get better.”
And gotten better she has. Two years ago, we interviewed Addy when she was 12 for a feature in Inside Desert Mountain magazine, looking at the junior golf participation on the Mountain. Since then, while adding a few more trophies to her achievements, Addy has consistently elevated her game. Course management, knowing when to attack pins and speed control on the greens are three areas she has practiced over time.
Her game improvement has already worked wonders with a championship on the line, but it has now started to make its way into her own household competition.
“Winning the Desert Mountain Club Championship was definitely a big highlight of mine. It’s fun to test my game against other golfers, but it is really fun winning money against my dad and his friends,” Addy said with a laugh.
“She definitely has to earn it,” Addy’s father, Nick Taylor, joked. “It’s not something I or my group enjoys, but we absolutely celebrate her and her success. But when she beats us, it is certainly earned.”
Nick, Addy’s mother, Stephanie, and her younger sister, Liv, all have been along Addy’s side every step of the way. As all great families do, supporting her through the ups and downs and teaching her everything they can about how to stay focused in big moments is what makes the Taylor family a team.
As the famous quote from former football coach Herm Edwards goes: “You play to win the game.” Addy has more than accomplished the winning part, and like any good competitor, always looks for more. But remembering that golf is still a game after all and should be fun is a big part of Addy’s enjoyment of the sport, and her family’s role in her growth.
“This should all be a fun experience first and foremost,” Mr. Taylor said. “If it’s not fun, it should probably be time to do something else. You don’t usually get a chance like the Southwestern Amateur to play against amazing amateur athletes from all over the world. Our expectation for her is to just have fun and see how you stack up.”
Regardless of what is on the line, all the trophies and top finishes were surely earned. Someday, Addy would love to see herself playing at the highest level. Until then, she knows what she has to do to get there, and has a support team of family, coaches and community behind her.
“I am always working on every part of my game,” Addy said. “Even when I’m playing, I watch the other golfers, just seeing the difference between me and them and how much growing I have to do.”
