JEFFERSON TWP — How serious is Jimmy Ellis about golf?

He left home after his sophomore year at Knoch High School to enroll at Windermere Prep in Florida, where he could work on his game every day under the watchful eyes of some of the nation's top coaches.

“It was a gutsy move,” his father, James Ellis, said. “I don't know if I could have done something like that at that age.

“It was a hard process ... a lot of tears from us each time he would visit home and then go back. But this was something he really wanted to do.”

Ellis was already a solid golfer. He was a consistent winner on the U.S. Kids Tour and won the 14-15 age group at the National Junior Golf Tour Championships in 2015.

But he wanted more.

“My goal was to attain a Division I college scholarship,” Ellis said. “I knew if I went down there, it would improve my talent on the course.

“It helped me academically, too. The academic standards at Windermere are very high. I was motivated to compete in the classroom as well as on the golf course.”

Ellis became part of a Windermere boys golf team that won the Florida state championship his junior year. He played in tournaments all over the country on some of the most prestigious courses.

And he attained that D-I scholarship. Ellis will be attending Robert Morris University in the fall and will play golf for the Colonials.

“I've been away for two years and I owe it to my family to come back closer to home,” Ellis said. “Robert Morris has an excellent business program and I want to attain my MBA in five years there.

“They have an excellent practice facility, which will make up for the northern conditions.”

Robert Morris finished runner-up to Central Connecticut in the Northeast Conference Tournament this season with only two seniors. The Colonials have won three NEC titles — most recently in 2015 — under 17-year head coach Jerry Stone.

Stone is a four-time NEC Coach of the Year and has guided RMU to the top half of the NEC standings 13 times.

“Jimmy is a scratch golfer and he's joining a high quality program,” his father said. “Golf is still No. 1 with him and he wants to pursue a career there, But he plans to complete that business program, too.”

Ellis has been receiving lessons from PGA pro instructor Andrew Park for two years. Park is married to fomer LPGA player Seol-An Park and has worked with players on the LPGA and European Tours, along with younger players.

“He's given me so much knowledge of the game,” Ellis said. “Two years ago, I didn't know close to what I know now.

“Not only did he help my fundamentals, but he taught me about course management, how to set up certain shots and work a golf course.”

While at Windermere, Ellis played golf with and against golfers from all over the world.

“Tournaments down there are at a whole different level,” he said. “I met kids from Argentina, Brazil, Russia ... all over, all with goals similar to my own.”

In early January, Ellis had the lead through 27 hopes of a major tournament at the University of Florida. He finished among the top four. He had numerous top five and top 10 finishes in junior tournaments over the past two years.

Ellis is playing in a U.S. Junior Amateur qualifier Thursday at Windber in Altoona.

Ellis says he plays golf every day. His family has a membership at Butler Country Club.

“That's the course I grew up on,” he said.

Standing only 5-foot-6 and weighing 138 pounds, Ellis can drive the ball 275 yards off the tee. That's a 40-yard improvement since he first left for Florida.

“I've been working out harder, more consistently,” he said.”I'm much stronger physically, I'm hoping to get that distance to 285 or 290 by the fall.”

Now that he's met his goal of attaining a Diviosion I golf scholarship, Ellis is turning his attention toward his next target in the sport.

Turning pro.

“One step at a time,” he said.