A sixth grader playing for the high school golf team? Yes, you read that right. Although high school golf does not get mainstream recognition like football or volleyball, Axel Monssoh ’30 is a name you need to know. Talking to him and seeing his infectious smile and humble demeanor, you would never know that he won over 20 tournaments by the age of seven and since then has won many more, including various titles for the RE golf team. He was named U.S. Kids Golf World Champion in 2019, an extremely impressive feat that very few can say they have achieved. At just 11 years old, this sixth-grade golf prodigy is not just playing with the big kids; he is helping lead the team to victory, one swing at a time.
Monssoh was introduced to golf when he was one year old, and he immediately fell in love with the sport. He began playing in the hallway of his home with a plastic set of clubs, a toy that came with him wherever he went. He eventually upgraded to playing out on the range with his mother, competitive amateur golfer Marie Arnoux. By the age of two, he was already playing on the course with his parents and continuing his early training for the athletic career he has grown into today.
When not in solo tournaments, Monssoh plays for RE’s Varsity Boys Golf Team, where he continues to make a name for himself. Monssoh practices with the team, coached by David Ragan, at the Biltmore Golf Course in Coral Gables.
Although Monssoh is the youngest player on the team, he has been quick to make friends and enjoy his surroundings. “It’s just cool to have him around…he makes me, and the rest of the team want to play well,” teammate Jackson Langer ’24 said.
When he is not playing with the team, he can usually be found at the Biltmore working on his own game, figuring out how to fix whatever he was lacking at the last tournament. His training ranges from practicing his short game to his long game, or even putting on the green—anything that will make him better than he was the day before and get him prepared for the next tournament. Monssoh also maintains a constant and rigorous fitness regimen throughout the week. Golf training can become very demanding, which is why Monssoh ensures that he is always staying in the best shape possible.
Monssoh’s goals do not stop at the high school level. He wants to play in college and even go professional. While many children dream from an early age to become a professional player of their sport, Monssoh is different in that he has already achieved youth world champion status. Playing professionally is unusually within reach.
Golf has given Monssoh much more than championships and medals. “Golf has helped me find my best friends,” he said. Seeing friends at every tournament makes him eager to travel and much more determined to win under the friendly competition.
I asked him about which songs he plays to hype himself up pre-game. “Nothing,” he replied. He is never nervous before a tournament, he said, because he feels confident in his preparation up to that point. If he can focus and execute when the time comes, Axel feels there should not be much to worry about. As someone who feels nervous after studying for a math test—far from a world championship golf tournament—for an entire week, I can only say that I’m impressed.
