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Lone Star state of mind: Cameron shines at Texas junior golf championship event
Nevada fifth-grader Emree Cameron had an outstanding showing at last week’s TaylorMade PGA Superstore Junior Golf Championship. Cameron placed runner-up at the event, held at The Tribute Golf Club in Colony, Texas, just off the east shore of Lake Lewisville.
“This was Emree’s most important tournament of the season, as the top three spots receive an invitation to the Junior Optimist International Golf Tournament,” noted Emree’s father and trainer, Eric. “The Optimist is one of the best known junior golf tournaments in the world, and is played at PGA National, site of PGA’s Honda Classic in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.”
At the Lone Star event, Emree played from 5,358 yards, similar to state tournament yardages at the high school girls’ level. Cameron, 10, competed in the 11-12 year-old division, and was paired with seventh-grade Texas native Brooke Deeds in the opening round. Emree more than held her own, concluding the opening round tied with Deeds after carding an 87, and second-place tie on the leaderboard.
On day two, Emree was paired with another Texas native, sixth-grader Alyssa Stewart. Stewart entered the day trailing Cameron by a stroke.
“I knew this would be a battle, because Alyssa is the defending tournament champion and is ranked 64th in the nation in the class of 2024, and No. 6 in Texas,” said Emree.
Said Eric, “Emree played the final round like it was match- play, knowing that if she beat Alyssa, she was almost guaranteed a top-three finish, and would earn that spot in the Optimist Invitation.”
With 15 holes in the books, Emree looked to finish strong while also nursing her two-stroke second-place lead on Stewart. After an accurate drive placed her in the middle of the fairway on No. 16, Emree still remained 145 yards from the pin. From there, her approach shot required a carry of 115 yards in order to clear a creek.
“We talked about her choices,” recounted Eric. “Lay up and you secure a bogey, maybe par. Or go for it and bring double-bogey into the picture.”
Emree had faced a similar situation both days on hole No. 1, and decided to lay up, resulting in a pair of bogies. Emree, however, had a change of heart on No. 16 and decided to go for the gold.
It didn’t work out, as she pulled the shot left and found the drink — resulting in a double-bogey, as her two-stroke lead over Stewart had completely evaporated.
Both Cameron and Stewart remained locked in a tie after bogies on No. 17.
Off the tee box on 18, a replica of hole No. 18 at famed St. Andrew’s, both girls were sitting in the middle of the fairway. Emree’s 5-hybrid approach-shot left her below the hole, while Stewart was sitting on the back of the green. Emree two-putted, and with Alyssa’s three putt, Emree finished with an 86 — one stroke ahead of Stewart.
After the dust settled Emree had followed up her day one 87, with a second-round 86. Emree edged out Stewart for second-place with a two-day total of 173, to Stewart’s 174, as Deeds slipped to fourth-place after tallying a second-round 91. Claiming the tournament crown was Texan Harper Edwards. Edwards, Texas’ No. 3 ranked 11-year-old in the class of 2024, won by 13 strokes, firing a 36-hole score of 160.
“What a learning experience for Emree,” said Eric. “Playing under pressure and learning to make smart golf decisions at the appropriate times is the type of golf she needs to be playing. She is close to getting her scoreboard ranking, so every stroke matters.”
Added Eric, “I asked Emree what she was thinking going into hole No. 18 on the final day, and she said, ‘I wasn’t thinking about my score, so I didn’t know where I stood. I was just thinking about making good putts.’ ”
Eric added that he anticipates Emree will be the class of 2025 No. 1 ranked girls golfer in the state of Missouri by mid-Summer.
Up next for Emree
The Futures Junior Golf Tour, this weekend at Sycamore Ridge Golf Course in Spring Hill, Kansas. In addition, Emree was accepted to play in the International Junior Golf Academy (IJGA) World Stars of Junior Golf Tournament, held in Las Vegas, Nevada in mid-July. Upon returning from Vegas, Emree will then head to Pinehurst, North Carolina, to compete in her fourth straight U.S. Kids World Championship.