Two Calhoun Countians will be aiming for a state championship in golf next week on a pair of courses.
Brandon Walker
Cameron Clarke, a junior at Bruce, and Brandon Walker, a senior at Vardaman, will both enter their respective tournaments among the favorites. Both have finished in the top five in their class the past two years.
“I feel like I can win it this year,” said Walker, who finished three shots off the lead at last year’s state tournament.
The Class 1A tournament will be a Big Oaks in Saltillo, the same spot as last year.
“I really like the course,” Walker said. “I’m better prepared this year, especially mentally.”
“I’ve learned golf is really a mental game. It’s 50/50 playing and mental,” Walker said. “You have to play the right shots at the right time. You can’t go after everything or try to force something that’s not there. You have to be patient and wait for the right time to make a birdie.”
Walker’s played golf all his life.
“I picked up a golf club when I was like three and it just grew from there,” he said.
He loves playing Old Waverly in West Point when he can. He’s more of a regular at Pine Hills in Derma and Big Oaks.
Cameron Clarke
Walker is expected to sign to play golf at ICC next year and hopes to go from there and play at the senior college level.
“I just love to play, always have,” he said.
Clarke is equally passionate about the game. He said that comes from his family.
It came from my dad’s dad (Allan Cameron Clarke Jr.),” Clarke said. “He introduced the game to my dad and we’ve all played as much as possible.”
Clarke’s frequency on the course is obvious in his game, having won medalist in virtually every match he’s competed in this year.
“I have a lot more confidence this year. My short game and wedge play has gotten a lot better,” he said. “My ball striking has gotten better. My putting is better. The only thing really is my speed on the greens, but if I can putt good and chip good I’ll have a good shot.”
He’ll have to defeat four-time defending Class 2A State Champ Andy Ogletree, a Georgia Tech signee.
“He’s very good, but I’ve improved a lot,” Clarke said.
They will be playing at The Dogwoods in Grenada.
“It’s a good course,” Clarke said. “You just have to hit the fairways and greens. If you don’t it has a few holes that can bite you.”
A junior, Clarke is committed to Meridian Community College for the time being, but has several senior colleges starting to express lots of interest, including Southern Miss.
