MOUNT VERNON — The top 10 at this year’s Northwest 3A District boys’ golf tournament included a freshman.

Yes, a freshman.

The golfer with “grade 9” next to his name was Mount Vernon’s Brennan Emory.

Not only did Emory crack the top 10 to qualify for the state tournament, but he did it in impressive fashion.

He finished second in the tournament, shooting an 80 one day and a 76 the next. He was six shots off the winning score and five strokes better than the third-place finisher.Emory won’t be the only Bulldog to take to the links at Meadow Spring Country Club in Richland starting today. He’ll be joined by teammates Bryce Hobbs, Collin Wagner and Chuckie Holyoke.

“Having four golfers qualify is really cool,” said Mount Vernon coach Jason Rinker. “They are all really great kids. And having four is really going to help, I think, alleviate some of the pressure. With all these guys, once they get going, I think they’ll be fine.”

Emory agreed.

“It’s awesome we have four golfers going,” he said. “We can all hang out.”

Confidence in his game is one of Emory’s strengths.

Asked if he expected to make the state tournament as a freshman, he didn’t hesitate.

“That was my goal from the start,” he said. “I really thought I could do it. If I kept playing steady and practicing and working, it would pay off.”

Rinker said he heard good things about Emory during his junior high years in Conway. He’d also heard that Emory liked to swing a bat and may be torn on whether to play baseball or golf.

Emory said baseball used to be his favorite sport, with the emphasis on “used to.”

“Baseball and golf were my two favorite sports,” he said. “But now I love golf more.”

He admitted it was tough to stop playing baseball.

“It was a really tough decision. When I started thinking about which sport to play, it came down to which one did I want to spend my time doing? I wanted to spend my time golfing.”

Obviously, Rinker is pleased with Emory’s decision.

“He came and talked to me and he was trying to decide whether to come out for golf or play baseball,” said Rinker. “After we talked, he decided to come out and play golf. Before, I wasn’t really sure which way he was going to go. Obviously he’s a good golfer and he’s really shown a passion for it.”

That passion was instilled early on.

Emory began playing golf when he was 5 years old. He’s been playing local courses for 10 years.

Rinker said most freshmen tend to shoot in 80s. Midway through the season, however, Emory shot a round in the low 70s.

Then at the Northwest Conference finals, he shot a 74. He followed that up with a crunch-time 76 on day two of districts.

“Something just clicked with him,” said Rinker. “He just started playing with more confidence. He was nervous on the first day of the district tournament. He settled down and took control of the situation on the second day.”

“Settled down?”

“Took control?”

Those usually aren’t phrases associated with freshmen.

“It’s been a lot of fun,” said Rinker. “It’s been a little while since we’ve had a freshman qualify for the state golf tournament from Mount Vernon. But he (Emory) has really come on. Something just clicked with him.”

Emory has the ability to stay cool, calm, collected and steady.

“You really can’t tell how he’s done when he comes into the clubhouse,” said Rinker. “He’s very steady and doesn’t get frustrated with his game. He goes out, hits the ball down the fairway and then two-putts for par.”

The coach added that it’s all about not making the big mistakes for his freshman.

“He just doesn’t hit balls out of bounds,” said Rinker. “He keeps his shots in play. The consistency in which he has played this season did come as a surprise. And he’s real competitive.
“That’s a good mix because his play has pushed everyone else. After all, nobody wants to lose to a freshman. That makes for real good competition.”

And what does Emory believe is his strength?

“Well, I don’t crush the ball,” he said. “I just find a way to get it where it needs to go and into the hole. My strength is being able to be around the green.

“I’m not out there to see how far I can hit the ball. I want to control my shots. That’s my style of golfing.”

Rinker certainly likes his freshman’s style.

“I really never have to worry about him. I knows he’s going to play consistent golf and that I’m not going to have to go out and talk to him. That’s awesome. As a coach, having not to worry is an awesome situation to be in.”

Now it all comes down to a couple of days at the state tournament.

“It’s going to be a lot of fun,” said Emory. “I am going to gain a lot of experience. After it’s over, I’ll just keep working on my game.”

And he has three more years of high school to do just that.

Vince Richardson can be reached at 360-416-2181 or by e-mail at .