From Three Pines to Australia; Ava Hudson’s International Opportunity
Lewistown, MO — For Sophomore Ava Hudson, winning state and finishing in the top 10 is “an amazing accomplishment.” And now Ava has been invited to travel to the other side of the globe and play in Australia. “I’ve been invited by Coast 2 Coast International Athletics to participate as an amateur representing Team USA in a USA vs Australia golf tournament July 7th through 17th at RACV Royal Pines Resort in Gold Coast, Australia.” Which is about an hour south of Brisbane.
The team will fly from Dallas, Texas, to Australia, where they will practice for 11 days before competing in a 3-day, 54-hole tournament against players from Australia and New Zealand. Ava qualified for this experience by maintaining an 85 score and qualifying as an individual at the state level in the 2025 fall season.
Ava Hudson is a sophomore at Highland High School and the daughter of Josh and Jess Hudson. They live in Lewistown, Mo., and her home course is Three Pines Golf Course in Tolona, Mo. This past season, she finished in ninth place in the Missouri Class 1 State Golf tournament and helped the Highland Lady Cougars win a state championship.
For Hudson, the opportunity means a lot. “I’ve worked hard the past two years to get this far; I never expected something like this so early in my career. Representing Team USA as an amateur is a dream come true. I plan to work hard over the next couple of months to further straighten out my game before I leave for Australia. I want to make myself and my supporters proud!” Ava will also learn from college-level coaches and former and current professional players.
Ava will also use this opportunity to learn, and not just golf. “In our downtime, we travel as a team to learn about local Australian culture, environments, and landmarks. Not only will I have the opportunity to learn more about the game I love, but I’ll also get to play with athletes from across the country and meet players from other countries. It’s an amazing opportunity.“
Golf is still new to Hudson. “I was never really familiar with golf before 2024. I started playing in my backyard and told my dad I wanted to try a real course.” With support from her family, she grew quickly: “My family encourages me to work hard, and they’ve helped me practice a lot.” Playing high school golf also fueled her progress. “Every match my freshman year motivated me. By sophomore year, my hard work paid off: I won my first invitational, placed 9th individually at State, and our team won first place.”
Although she faces non-golf weather, Ava still finds ways to practice. “I’ve continued working on my game throughout the winter, practicing in my garage and getting rounds in on simulators at friends of my parents. Whenever it’s warm enough, I plan to be on the golf course. My dad and I even played a round of golf the day after Christmas because it was warm enough.” Of course, when the weather does seem right, she’ll get right out on her home course of Three Pines Golf Course in Tolona, Mo. “As the weather gets warmer, it gives me a lot more opportunity to better my game before this trip, and I will definitely take advantage of it.”
However, Ava and her family must raise the funds for travel. “As an amateur, the entire expense must be covered by our family, which is very expensive. To help ease the burden on my parents, I’m asking for contributions or sponsorships from friends, family, the community, and local businesses. I’m so grateful for any support to make this journey possible.”
To donate, use Cash App ($AvalynnHudsongolf28) or Venmo (@jehudson2009). Businesses can sponsor via Coast 2 Coast International Athletics for a tax-deductible receipt. To mail a check, contact Ava’s parents for details. Updates will be posted on Facebook to follow our progress. Every donation, big or small, helps us reach our goal!
Congratulations to Ava Hudson on this incredible opportunity, and good luck in Australia.
