ISLE OF WIGHT

When Sydney Grimes attended her first Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association conference championship as a member of Isle of Wight Academy’s golf team, she was only in the seventh grade. Yet her performance — according to her coach, Eugene Milburn — attracted the attention of several of his fellow coaches at the event, one of whom wanted Grimes named all conference.

That was in the spring of 2014, and, “Of course, you cannot do that for a seventh grader, but she did receive a certificate of special recognition,” Milburn said.

Now a senior, Grimes is ranked No. 1 statewide within IWA’s VISAA division, and on Tuesday, signed her letter of intent to attend Converse College in Spartanburg, South Carolina, and continue her golf career at the college level.

Grimes is undecided on a major but is considering communications, and hopes to one day be on the golf channel. When asked why she chose Converse, Grimes said she liked the school’s golf coach, Patti McGowan.

A former gymnast, Grimes took up golf when her parents offered her a choice one summer of going to summer camp or joining her father on the greens. She has played for IWA’s golf team for the past six years.

During that time, she has been named most valuable player on multiple occasions, as well as all conference and all state. She has served as co-captain of IWA’s team, and is captain this year. She also holds a record for girls in the VISAA conference for two-under-par 34.

She is the daughter of Jack and Stacy Grimes of Suffolk.