Mitchell Abbott played in the Southern Nevada Junior Golf Association, at Bishop Gorman and the at the Univ. of Nevada and Southern Utah. Now he is continuing his golf career and following his passion as a Southern Nevada Golf Association PJ Boatwright intern.

In 1991, the USGA established the P.J. Boatwright Jr. Internship Program. This program is designed to give experience to individuals who are interested in pursuing a career in golf administration, while assisting state and regional golf associations in the promotion of amateur golf, on a short-term, entry level basis.

Over the years, the SNGA has embraced the program.

“I just like helping out the golf community and that is something that speaks to me,” Abbott says. “I am not playing as much anymore, so I felt like there was kind of a hole there that I needed to fill. And this internship really helps me with all aspects of golf. I am super thankful.”

Abbott will be assisting with tournament operations, taking photos, scoring, working in the office, and more during his time with the SNGA. His major at Univ. of Nevada was general business and he earned an MBA at Southern Utah.

“My whole life I’ve been on the other side playing competitive golf so it is interesting to be on the organizational side of it now,” Abbott says. “My competitive golf career is pretty much over and I couldn’t imagine golf not being in my life. I thought the intern was a good place to start. I’m learning a mix of everything when it comes to golf: setting up tournaments, memberships, registrations.”

Abbott loves both sides of Nevada and also how the SNJGA helped his golf journey.

“I love Reno, and I’m a Vegas guy who has turned into a Reno lover,” Abbott says. “I am all team Nevada, everything about it. The North and South are so different and I’m happy I got to see both sides of the state. I moved to Las Vegas when I was 16 and the SNJGA helped me a lot. I couldn’t even break 80 when I moved here. And pretty quickly, I climbed up the rankings. I don’t know if I would have played college golf or gotten any of my education without playing in the SNGA and SNJGA.”

The Abbott File

Graduate of Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas in 2018 … Also attended high school in New Mexico and was a five-time letter winner in golf between the two … earned a slew of accolades including first team all-state (two), first team All-Southern Nevada (two), first team All-Sunset Region (two), first team All-FCWT, twice named the Bishop Gorman Player of the Year, was the 2018 Sunset Regional Champion, and was a seven-time league match champion … Captured back-to-back state championships in New Mexico … Held the low round scoring record at Bishop Gorman with a round of 66 … Outside of the high school ranks, he had a runner-up and top three finish at the Nevada State Junior Championship and two top three finishes on the Future Champions Golf Tour.