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Nevada golf wins, Cameron sets new state record at Seneca Invite
First, she shot the lowest round in program history.
Now, she’s set a new state mark.
At this rate, the Guinness Book of World Records might want to start paying attention to Emree Cameron.
The Nevada High School freshman phenom is just two golf tournaments into her prep career, and already she has written her name into the history books — the latest record-breaking effort coming at the Seneca Invitational Thursday at Eagle Creek Golf Course.
Cameron shot a 72 on the par-74 course, two strokes fewer than the previous Missouri State High School Activities Association best for an 18-hole round on a par-74 (set by Rock Bridge’s Meghan Mueller in 2008).
The record-breaking round also earned Cameron her first individual high school title (by 15 strokes) and helped lead the Lady Tigers to their first team title in several years (by five strokes).
“It felt so awesome to win our first team event so early in the season. I believe we will turn a lot of heads,” stated Cameron, who also shot a 72 (+1) in her first tournament last week in Springfield, which was a program record. “It means so much to me to break the record while representing the Nevada Lady Tigers. I have set some high goals and plan on breaking more records.”
Cameron’s record for a par-74 should last a while. In head coach Brian Leonard’s 17 years at NHS, his Lady Tigers had never played a par-74 course — until Thursday.
“I don’t know how this popped up, but it just did. That should be the last one we see,” said Leonard, whose team combined for a score of 420 in the program’s first team victory at an event since winning a Marshfield tournament soon after winning districts in 2010. “They were so excited. When they announced it, you should have seen their faces. They were all so happy. Just tickled.”
In a tournament in which only three players shot under 100 (a product of the rare par-74 course), Nevada senior Katie Pennington returned to the clubhouse with the second-best team score at 111. Fellow senior Libby Barrett was next at 117, followed by Paige Hertzberg and Riley Severance, who each shot 120.
Leonard credited a loose and fun practice round on Wednesday for getting the Lady Tigers prepared — something he says they needed after having to postpone a meet at Butler on Tuesday.
“They played outstanding that night, having fun and relaxing,” Leonard said. “On the bus ride, I told them to remember last night, how much fun we had. ‘I want you to do the same thing today. Relax and enjoy it. Just go out and have fun playing golf.’”
Cameron certainly did.
She sank her first birdie on the par-5 no. 2, and then almost hit her first-ever hole-in-one on the par-3 no. 7 (only to make par on it). A couple of bogeys on that front nine gave Cameron a 38 (+2) heading onto the back.
She opened the par-4 no. 10 with a birdie and bogeyed the par-5 no. 13 — before playing her best hole on the 415-yard par-5 no. 14.
Alongside Carthage’s Hailey Bryant (whose second-place 83 helped her team place second overall with 425 strokes), Cameron blasted off the tee and hit an approach shot to within about 12 feet of the pin. While Bryant’s eagle putt from about the same distance lipped out, Cameron’s found the bottom of the cup.
Cameron proceeded to then birdie two of her final four holes (both par-5s) to finish with an impressive 34 (-4) on the back nine.
“I was shocked. She could have shot a 70, easily,” Leonard said. “She played good golf. I’m very proud of her. But I told her, ‘Even if you have no more records, I’m still going to support you and will be right there on every shot. Most importantly, keep playing golf and having fun.’”
Cameron and company will look to do just that at the Joplin Lady Eagle Invitational Wednesday at Schifferdecker Golf Course.
For all the record-keepers out there: that’s a par-71 course, the MSHSAA record for which is 60 (-11).