Having a father who had a passion for golf as well as a membership at Green Hill Golf Course in Worcester, Auburn’s Aidan Donohue was teeing off at the tender age of two years old. As soon as he stepped onto the greens, Donohue fell in love with the game and has been playing it ever since.

By the time he was 10 years old, he was playing on the Junior PGA as well as playing US Kids Golf Tours with his dad, caddying for him. When he began winning tournaments, the young golfer realized that he was actually pretty good.

“I was working on making myself a well-rounded golfer going out with my dad,” Donohue said. “It was great companionship playing together.”

As high school got closer Donohue knew that he wanted to play for Auburn. But since the school did not have a junior varsity team, he knew that he would have to play well to make the varsity team. According to his father, all he was hoping to do was make the team and be able to help them.

Not only did he make the team, but he inserted himself into the lineup right away. 

“As a freshman he shot a 35 on the first day of tryouts,” Auburn Coach Rob Kemp said. “Almost immediately he was contending for that top spot.”

Although he was vying for a spot on the starting lineup, Donohue realized that it might not come to fruition in his freshman season. 

“The coach had told me prior that freshmen usually don’t start, but since I continued to play well, I got to start and had a hole-in-one during my second match,” Donohue said. “I had never had a hole-in-one and at first, it didn’t go in, just rolled around. It was great feeling.”

Donohue continued to battle Mikey Jocelyn throughout the year for that number one position for the Rockets, with both golfers shooting in the mid-30s. By the time the season ended, Donohue was the CMAC League Champion, shooting a 75.

“My freshman season was successful and I believe I accomplished everything that I wanted to, except play well at the Districts,” he said.

Following his freshman campaign, he went on to capture the club championship at Green Hill, becoming the youngest golfer to do so since 1929. Donohue even defeated Bruce Carter, someone who has won numerous club championships over multiple courses. 

“Aidan knew that his biggest challenge going in was Bruce, but he knew that he still had a good chance of winning,” his father Brendan said. “Over the two days he shot a 77 and 73 on the par 72 course, so when he won it was a surprise, but it wasn’t a surprise.”

Winning a club championship is a big deal, especially for a 15-year-old golfer. Now his name is up on the clubhouse wall. 

Behind the play of Donohue and Jocelyn, the Auburn golfers went undefeated last fall and are looking to improve upon their play this year. Donohue believes that Auburn has a talented team coming into the season, but his coach sees a well-rounded team behind his top two golfers.

“There is a lot of depth behind these two this year,” Kemp said. “I feel that this is our year and we could make a run hopefully into the State Tournament. Last year in the MIAA Division 1 West Sectionals we tied for 29th, shooting a 16 over par for an 88 average.”

This year Donohue will be teeing off with Sam Shea, another sophomore. Shea was in the seventh and eighth position last fall, but drastically improved his game and has moved up to play with Donohue.

Although Donohue is currently slated as the team’s top golfer, the sophomore believes that he must play up to his game and keep pace with the senior Jocelyn.

“I’ve got to keep up with Mikey, who shoots around 36,” Donohue said. “If I can do that this year then I’ll feel real good and should be able to make it back to the Districts and play good.”

Once the season is over for the Rockets, Donohue will continue to play as much golf as he can until the snow starts to fly. Once winter sets in, Donohue and his father will hit the simulators until the warmer weather returns.

As for the future, Donohue will take golf with the Rockets one year at a time. When he was in middle school, he just wanted to make the high school team. Now as a high school golfer he wants to play well enough for an opportunity to play in college. Following college, the next step would be the Pros, but he’s not thinking that far ahead.

“Playing in the PGA would be absolutely great, it would be wonderful,” Donohue said. “But I am definitely not thinking that far ahead. Right now, it’s all about high school and helping Auburn win a championship.” W