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Stepping up in class: Cameron secures one stroke victory at U.S. Kids Midwest Invitational
Nevada’s 10-year-old golfing phenom, Emree Cameron, has elevated her game to the next level.
Coming off a dominant 14-stroke victory May 20-21 at the Oklahoma State Invitational in Broken Arrow, Cameron returned to the links last weekend to compete for the first time in the 10-11 year old division, winning the U.S. Kids Midwest Invitational at Sycamore Ridge Golf Course in Spring Hill, Kan.
Facing longer course dimensions, stiffer competition, and 36 total holes compared to 18, Cameron took it all in stride, holding off Columbia, Mo., native Audrey Rischer for a one stroke victory. As the youngest girl in her age division, Cameron also defeated 2016 champion Lyla Louderbaug, as well as five current or past U.S. Kids Golf Players of the Year.
The Truman Elementary School fifth-grader came out smoking, opening up a seven stroke lead on Rischer at the conclusion of the first round while carding a 7-over-par 79.
Through the first five holes on day two Cameron increased her lead, sitting at 2-over-par.
“On hole six, the wheels fell off,” said Emree’s father and caddy, Eric. “She hit her drive into the hazard and lipped out a one foot putt. This led to double bogies on holes six, seven, eight, and nine.”
At the turn Cameron’s seven stroke lead had nearly evaporated, as the hard-charging Rischer closed to one stroke back with nine holes remaining.
Eric described Emree’s first event in the new age division as eye-opening.
“On hole No. 10 Emree watched the older girls bomb drives past her by 20-30 yards,” he said.
Cameron was able to finally recover at No. 10, leaving a smooth 8-iron to within 20-feet of the hole. She then sank the 20-foot right to left-bending putt for a birdie, increasing her lead to three strokes with eight to play.
Cameron gave a stroke back on hole No. 11 after carding a bogie, but swiftly padded her lead to four strokes after sinking a birdie on the 125-yard par three 12th hole. A birdie on No. 16, combined with a double bogie on 17, left Cameron with a two-stroke lead over Rischer with the final hole looming.
18th hole drama
The nerves were building, as well as the number of carts following the final group.
Rischer, who carded an opening round score of 86, smashed her drive off the par-5, 320-yard 18th tee straight down the middle of the fairway, positioning her to reach the green in two.
Cameron’s game-plan on 18 was to play it conservative, looking to par out, thus forcing Rischer to sink an eagle to tie and move to a playoff.
“Following this strategy, Emree hit a 5-wood off the tee box and laid up with a 9-iron, leaving her about 51 yards for her third shot,” said caddy Cameron.
Rischer then came through with a fantastic second shot, leaving her a 21-foot putt for eagle.
All was going according to plan for Cameron, as she used a 3/4 sand-wedge on her third shot, knocking it to within six feet of the hole.
“It was pretty intense, at least for the caddies and spectators,” said Eric. “The golfers seemed to keep their calm.”
Rischer then stepped onto the green and nearly sank a spectacular 21-foot eagle attempt, coming up an inch short of the hole. Cameron now needed only to two-putt from six feet out to secure the championship.
“And that is exactly what she did,” said an elated Eric.
Cameron, who finished 20-over, tallied a two-day score of 164 en route to her second state championship of the 2017 season and fourth of her career.
“It was a lot of work, playing against 10 and 11-year old’s for the first time,” Emree told the Daily Mail. “It was tough because the girls were hitting it really far. I knew it was good competition, and I had to play my very best.”
In addition to Cameron’s triumphant outing, fellow Nevada native Owen Swearingen, completed in the 13-14 year-old boys division at the same event. Swearingen tallied a two-day score of 188, for 17th place.
Up next
Cameron is headed to Polk City, Iowa this weekend for the Iowa Kickoff, a Hurricane Junior Golf Tour event. Cameron currently ranks 101st on the tour in the 13-and-under division.