North Hall’s Jimmy Lloyd can trace his success on the golf course back to what he learned from playing with Alan Fowler in 2007.

Then, as a freshman, Lloyd learned about composure, work ethic and competitiveness from Fowler, who now plays golf at Georgia State.

“Alan was kind of a role model to me,” Lloyd said.

It seems to have worked.

This year, Lloyd emerged from under the shadow playing with Fowler, a three-time Times Area Golfer of the Year, to win the Region 7-AAA individual title with a personal best round of 66. He also played a big part in North Hall’s fourth-place finish at the Class AAA state meet.

For his efforts, Lloyd is The Times 2008 Boys Golfer of the Year.

Lloyd was pleasantly surprised to have such a memorable outing at the region championship.

He was thinking more along the lines of bringing in a team title for the Trojans, instead of focusing on the individual crown. A three-putt on No. 9 could have derailed any shot at the individual title, had it not been for his recovery on the next hole.

“We’re very happy about the season Jimmy had this year,” North Hall coach Robert Mills said.

Lloyd knows he’s going to have to work hard over the summer and into next season to keep that No. 1 status for North Hall. His teammate, Landry Haynes, finished tied for second (71) at the state meet this season.

Lloyd and Haynes will both be juniors next season, along with returning golfers Derek Watson, Roger Nash, Sam Weaver and Jesse Tipton.

Coming off of a fourth place finish at state this season, the Trojans will be considered a team in contention for the state title next season.

“We have six players on this team that can shoot in the 70s, and that helps our team big time because we aren’t having to struggle to play as good as we can,” Lloyd said. “That just helps out tremendously.”

“We have a lot of healthy competition on this team,” Mills said.

To be prepared for next season, Lloyd is playing a challenging summer schedule with 12 tournaments on the American Junior Golf Association and the Southeastern Junior circuit. He finished in a three-way tie for second (143) in his first AJGA event of his career on May 26 at the Medicus Junior Preseason at Chateau Elan’s Chateau Course.

Lloyd hopes to continue to improve, and maybe become the golfer that younger Trojans look up to.

“I’m hoping that the younger golfers look up to me for how I play,” Lloyd said.