Blades Brown (golfer)
Blades Brown is an American golfer from Nashville, Tennessee who at age 16 broke Bobby Jones’ record as the youngest medalist at stroke play in U.S. Amateur Championship Tournament history.[1] Bobby Jones set the record when he was 18 years old (1920), and it remained unbroken for 103 years. In 2023, the 16 year old Brown, then a high school sophomore, shot a course record 64 at Colorado's Cherry Hills Country Club in the 123rd U.S. Amateur tying for first place in the tournaments's stroke play portion.[2]
He earned entry into the national golf tournament after playing a qualifying round in July, 2023, at the Franklin Bridge Golf Club in Franklin, Tennessee, where he shot a 62 on the final day.[3] His performance in the U.S. Amateur led to a sponsor exemption into his first PGA Tour event, the 2024 Myrtle Beach Classic.[4] At Myrtle Beach, he made the cut and tied for 26th, finishing 10 under par, demonstrating that a 16 year old was capable of competing on the PGA Tour.[5] As of 2024, he is ranked no. 4 in the American Junior Golf Association and no. 176 in the World Amateur Golf Rankings.[5]
Brown's mother, Rhonda Blades played professional basketball in the WNBA. She was the first player in the WNBA to score a 3-point goal.[2] She was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 2023.[6]
Early life[edit]
Blades was taught basketball as well as golf in his childhood.[7] His older sister Millie was the main basketball protégé of their mother.[7] Millie made more than 220 three-pointers in her high school basketball career, leading her team to win the state high school championship in 2018.[7] She played college basketball in North Carolina. Blades said his main childhood mission was "to be as good of a shooter as my sister is."[7] Brown won three TSSAA golf state championships for his high school, Nashville's Brentwood Academy.[5]
References[edit]
- ^ Palmateer, Tyler (May 8, 2024). "Brentwood Academy's Blades Brown,16, making PGA Tour debut this week". No. 110, Vol. 120. The Tennessean. pp. 1–B, 4–B. Retrieved May 12, 2024.
- ^ a b Romine, Brentley (August 16, 2023). "Like WNBA mom, like son: Blades Brown, 16, makes history at U.S. Amateur". nbcsports.com. Retrieved May 12, 2024.
- ^ Robinson, George (September 19, 2023). "Good Company". No. 221, Vo. 119. The Tennessean. USA Today Network. pp. A–1, B–1, B–8. Retrieved May 12, 2024.
- ^ Myers, Alex (May 10, 2024). "16-year-old Blades Brown backed up an all-time cocky line to his caddie by chipping in during PGA Tour debut". golfdigest.com. Retrieved May 12, 2024.
- ^ a b c Chastain, Austin (May 14, 2024). "A Spectacular Debut". No. 115, Vol. 120. The Tennessean. USA Today Network. p. 2–B. Retrieved May 14, 2024.
- ^ "Missouri Sports Hall of Fame/Inductees/ Rhonda Blades Brown". mosportshalloffame.com. Missouri Sports Hall of Fame. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
- ^ a b c d Durando, Bennett (August 16, 2023). "For U.S. Amateur history-maker Blades Brown, golf is a show of love for dad. Basketball is for mom". denverpost.com. The Denver Post. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
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