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Prep Roundup
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• Public Schools • South Iredell High School • top story
2008 Apr-27
Even-keeled Vikings standout Brown isn’t one to be complacent on the courseBy BRAD NORMAN
During a practice round last week at Fox Den Golf Course, Brown faced a tricky chip shot with his ball positioned on an incline. Brown took a few practice swings, got his grip just right and chipped to within six feet of the hole. “I really need to work on my putting and my short game right now,” Brown said with a trace of disgust as he made the putt for par. “I’ve been struggling with that.” Struggling? After that chip shot? “It’s not good enough,” Brown said. “I should be getting to within three feet.” Therein lies one of the top reasons why Brown is the No. 1 golfer for the Vikings and a threat to compete for a state championship before he graduates. He’s not complacent, always looking for small, seemingly insignificant ways to improve his game. Much of that comes from an astute mental ability that some golfers never completely hone. “I think Clay’s best attribute is that he doesn’t get rattled,” Vikings coach David Foster said. “If he’s playing well, it’s hard to tell. If he’s playing bad, it’s hard to tell. He’s pretty calm and cool, and just kind of stays collected.” Brown knows the benefits of staying calm, so he’s always thinking, always plotting his next shot. Especially when faced with tough decisions. “The mental aspect is just another thing you have to consider,” Brown said. “Some people have mental coaches, they think it’s so important. But you can hit great one day, the next can be junk. That’s just golf.” And in golf, tiny mental errors are bound to happen to even the most talented. Three holes after Brown short-putted for par, he is studying his approach on a par-4 after blasting a tee shot to the middle of the fairway. He lines up, again making sure his grip is perfect, and sends the ball sailing toward the green. But Brown hits it just a bit too hard, and his ball bounces off the back of the green onto the fairway behind it. “That was just a mental error,” Brown said calmly, sticking his club back in his bag. “The wind was at my back, and I was hitting downhill, too. Just a mental error.” Brown doesn’t make too many of those, though. Neither do the rest of the Vikings. South is currently in second place by a comfortable margin in the competitive Southern Piedmont 1A-2A. Its berth in the 2A Midwest Regional is nearly a lock. And the Vikings will get their chance to compete against the other five county schools — all 3A — at the Iredell County golf championships, scheduled for 1 p.m. Tuesday at Fox Den. South took third as a team last season, finishing just three strokes behind Mooresville. As a freshman, Brown fired a 73 to finish second individually. He’s aiming for an even higher finish this year. “I’d like to win it this year,” Brown said. “As team and for individual scores.” Bookmarkz |
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