BRAINERD -- The wind roared.
But like a sea boat captain navigating angry waters, Turner Person navigated Cragun’s Legacy Courses.
The senior for the Brainerd Warriors boys’ golf team picked his spots to attack the par 70 course, but was brilliant at adjusting his game to fit the elements. That combination helped the second-year varsity player to a 3-over 73 and a two-shot victory against an impressive Central Lakes Conference field Monday, May 9
“It was truly difficult with all the wind and stuff, but I’ve played that course quite a few times and even though it’s changed a little, I’m still pretty used to it,” Person said. “I have good course knowledge and was able to play off of that. I knew where to put shots and then I was just playing well.”
Person’s 73 led the Brainerd Warriors to a team score of 312 which landed them in second place, four strokes behind Alexandria.
ADVERTISEMENT
Brainerd head coach Brian Wallace hopes Person continues to play in less than ideal weather conditions.
“I’m not sure why, but the worse the weather conditions the better he plays,” Wallace said. “He always seems to be pretty focused, but maybe he takes a little more time. He just puts his nose down and doesn’t worry about the wind and just goes right at it.”
Person started on hole No. 2 and birdied the 417-yard par 4. He bogeyed the next hole only to get back under par on the 297-yard par 4 fourth hole. He finished even par on the front. Three bogeys on the back nine were his only deviation from par on the final nine holes.
I’m a captain this year and I was really just hoping to be a role model for some of the younger players and hopefully help them to some successful careers in high school golf.
Person went into his 18th hole, the 346-yard par 4 1st hole, with a two-stroke lead. Despite having the leaderboard on his phone, Person didn’t look. He knew he was playing well, but had no idea he was in the lead.
After his final putt dropped for a par, his playing partners quickly congratulated him on his first varsity victory.
“It felt really good after it happened and even the practice after that round,” Person said. “Everyone just congratulated me. It was very exciting going home that day knowing that I won one. My dad had been following my scorecard online so he pretty much knew right when I finished. He congratulated me a couple of times so that was awesome.”
Prior to the CLC meet at Cragun’s, Person carded a 17th-place 164 at the two-day Blaine Invite. Person didn’t record any birdies, but stayed away from big numbers to shoot rounds of 83 and 81.
“Starting out this year, to be honest, his scores were pretty high to begin the season,” Wallace said. “I think it just took him a while to get his body back into condition for swinging the golf club. Now that he’s back on track, his scores have come down. I’m not completely sure why there was a slow start, but he’s certainly turned things around.”
ADVERTISEMENT
In the Section 8-3A Preview Friday, May 13, at Headwaters Golf Club in Park Rapids, Person tied for seventh with an 80. Brainerd finished with a team score of 320 for second place behind Alexandria once again.
Person birdied his first hole, the 490-yard par 5 15th hole, but followed with a double bogey. He shot nines of 41 and 39.
“His personality is very mellow and even-keel,” Wallace said. “He doesn’t get too excited or too down on himself. He just sort of goes about his business. It would be very difficult to know just by his body language if he’s having a great day or a mediocre day. Some kids you can tell just by how they look at you. With Turner, he’s just this mellow kid and it works for him.”
Person said the key to his victory and improved play has been his driving. He said he’s confident when he steps onto the tee box. He’s also been happy with his iron play and said he’s hitting the green in regulation with consistency. What he plans on working on until the Section 8-3A Tournament is his putting. As the area greens quicken he knows putting will be key.
“He is putting the ball in play on a very regular basis,” Wallace said. “He’s not really getting in trouble off the tee. His ball striking has been really good. The scores we’ve seen recently, his short game is supporting him. Before, his short game wasn’t quite in tune with where it is now.”
Person has had success at sections. Last year he opened with a round of 76 and hopes to mimic that round two more times this year. His No. 1 priority, however, is to lead a young Brainerd squad to success this year and in years to come.
“I’m a captain this year and I was really just hoping to be a role model for some of the younger players and hopefully help them to some successful careers in high school golf,” Person said. “The hope is always to make it to state. Whether we can do it this year or the team can do it in the following years, I think we definitely can.”
JEREMY MILLSOP may be reached at 855-5856 or jeremy.millsop@brainerddispatch.com. Follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/jeremymillsop.
ADVERTISEMENT
Turner Person
Sport: Golf
Year: Senior
Age: 17
Height: 5-foot-10
Career highlight: Shooting 76 in the first round of the Section 8-3A Tournament last year
Grade-point average: 3.4
Favorite class: AP Physics
ADVERTISEMENT
Favorite food: Pizza
Favorite movie: “Caddyshack”
Favorite TV show: “The Office”
Favorite website or app: Snapchat
Favorite restaurant: Chipotle Mexican Grill
Future plans: Mechanical engineering at North Dakota State University
Favorite athlete: Tiger Woods
Parents: Todd and Tonya Person
ADVERTISEMENT
Other notable performances
Ethan DeRosier, boys lacrosse, scored five goals against Satell/Sauk Rapids and two more against Moorhead.
Jacob Holm, boys lacrosse, scored five goals against Sartell/Sauk Rapids.
Andrew Albright, boys track and field, won the shot put, 110-meter hurdles and long jump and finished second in the triple jump in the Section 8-3A True Team meet.
Brenna Deason, girls track and field, won the 100- and 200-meter dashes, pole vault and was part of a first-place 4x100 relay team in the Section 8-3A True Team meet.
Hanna Caughey, girls track and field, won the shot put and discus in the Section 8-3A True Team meet.
Beck Barber, boys tennis, finished the week 6-0 at No. 1 singles.
Eli McConkey, boys tennis, finished the week 6-0 at No. 3 singles.
ADVERTISEMENT
Meghan Smith, softball, finished the week 8-16 with a double, grand slam, 7 RBIs and five runs.
Kasia Kroll, softball, finished last week 11-16 with six runs and three RBIs.
Emma Tautges, finished last week 10-18 with three doubles, eight RBIs and four runs.
Olivia Tautges, softball, finished last week 3-0 with 40 strikeouts in 23 innings pitched. She allowed just five runs, four earned, on 10 hits and seven walks.
The Trust Project
