Cameron crushes competition, defends Oklahoma State Invitational title with 14 stroke victory

Nevada’s Emree Cameron flashes a smile while holding her Oklahoma State Invitational championship trophy.

Submitted photo

Nevada 10-year-old Emree Cameron mounted a successful defense of her 2016 U.S. Kids Golf Oklahoma State Invitational championship, walloping this year’s competition en route to a 14-stroke victory.

Cameron’s latest triumph came May 20-21, as the fourth annual event was held at The Club at Indian Springs in Broken Arrow.

Cameron’s dominance over the past few years on the U.S. Kids Golf Local Tour had earned her an invitation to the event, an opportunity to compete against the best competition the region has to offer.

This was Cameron’s final event in the 8-9 year-old division as the Truman Elementary School, soon-to-be fifth-grader, celebrated her 10th birthday on May 23.

At the Oklahoma State Invitational, Cameron played the par-36 back-nine both days, firing a 2-over-par 38 on Saturday and a 1-over 37 on Sunday. Her two-day score of 75 secured the back-to-back championships.

Beans Factor finished a distant second place with a final score of 89.

Cameron led Factor, who was the 2015 Oklahoma State Invitational champion, by five strokes at the conclusion of day one. Cameron’s overall score actually tied the 10-11 year-old girls’ division champion, Charlie Whorton, who also carded a 75.

Emree Cameron tees off at the fourth annul U.S. Kids Oklahoma State Invitational.

Submitted photo

The highlight of the event for Cameron came when she knocked in a 24-foot putt on the third hole, negotiating an incline on the green to save par.

“My great grandpa and grandma Cameron were able to come and watch,” said Emree. “Also, I won last year and got to come back and win again this year.”

Cameron’s victory was accentuated by her day one short game performance, where she needed only 15 putts through nine holes.

“This was one of her best putting performances of her career,” said Emree’s father and trusted caddy, Eric. “Emree played steady on day two with great ‘long iron’ play and another solid putting performance.”

Up next

Cameron, for the first time, will compete against 10 and 11 year-old golfers when she tees off in the U.S. Kids Midwest Invitational, June 3-4, at Sycamore Ridge Golf Club in Spring Hill, Kan.