(For more about the PGA Junior golf program, see below.)

Kelsey Meyer with some of her golf trophies and medals.

Twelve-year-old Kelsey Meyer certainly likes golf. She played in her first tournament went she was five and she even remembers her score.

Two year ago, Kelsey broke her right arm. She had pins in the bone and a solid cast from her shoulder to her hand. But, she competed in a golf tournament in Columbia, Mo., and finished second.

She earned her way to the World Junior Golf tournament in Orlando, Fla., where she competed in the 13-14 age group. She competed with older girls because the regional tournament Belleville, Ill., didn't have a 12-and-under competition.

Kelsey had her hands full in the Orlando tournament against the older girls. But she did much better in two other tournaments in June. In those two meets, she was against girls her own age.

At Orlando, against the 13 and 14-year-olds, she finished ninth in the 36-hole finals.

But, in a Little Peoples tournament in Quincy, Ill., she was fourth out of 37 entries in the 12-13 age group. Although the meet is close to St. Louis, it has grown into a meet that attracts players from around the world.

Also, in play June 28 at St. Andrews Golf Course in St. Charles, Kelsey finished first in the 12-and-under bracket. That earned her a berth in the national US Kids Golf Tournament, which will be played at Jeykll Island, Ga.

Kelsey started playing golf when she was four, using kids clubs.

That first tournament at age 5 was a one-hole tournament. Asked how she scored, Kelsey said, "I had an 8. I was on the green in 2 and 6-putted."

She admits that putting is still the hardest part of golf for her. "I read the greens all right but the stroking is hard," she said.

Kelsey said she hasn't changed her putter to try for improvement. However, she admits, "I have tried putting cross-handed. But, it didn't make much difference."

Asked about the strength of her game, she said, "It's probably driving." She added that her short iron play "is normally okay."

The 5-foot-1-inch seventh grader said her best score has been 37, which is l-over par for nine holes. She now plays from the women's tees and uses "petite ladies" golf clubs.

As she heads into the summer, she's scheduled to play in a golf tournament just about every weekend. Then, she practices almost every day during the week at Forest Hills Golf Course. Her family has a membership there.

A typical practice session involves work on the practice tees and also shooting a round of golf. She starts by practicing with her short irons and then switches to driving.

Kelsey said she doesn't hit any set number of practice balls. "I just hit shots until I get it right," she said.

She said golf gets easier as she gets older, taller and stronger.

Kelsey said she started beating her mother, Robin, at golf when she was eight. However, she admits she's got quite a ways to go before beating her dad, Jerry, or her older sister and brother.

Jerry Meyer is a former assistant pro at a St. Louis area golf course. Robin said Jerry plays more golf now than when he was a teaching pro. Jerry now builds houses for a living.

Her older sister, Haley, is 18. She just finished her freshman year at University of Dayton, where she's on the golf team.

Her brother, Jack, 16, is a member of the CBC golf team and plays in national tournaments himself. Last month, he played in a tournament in Lexington, Ky.

Players in that tournament included 13-year-old Morgan Pressel, the youngest player to qualify for the Women's Open Championship.

Asked about her future, Kelsey said, "I'd like to play on the LPGA circuit." LPGA stands for Ladies Professional Golf Assn., the group that runs women's professional golf.

If that doesn't work, Kelsey has a fallback position. "If I don't qualify for the LPGA, I'd like to be an interior decorator."

This fall, Kelsey will be a seventh grader in Ascension Catholic School in Chesterfield.