Braxton Turner
Bridge Creek
What could have been a disheartening injury opened a new successful athletic door for Bridge Creek senior Braxton Turner.
“When I was little, I was all into soccer. But then I got hurt and was told I couldn’t play contact sports for at least two years. My dad had been taking me to the driving range a couple of times a year, so I decided to put my energy into golf and realized I had the potential to be pretty good. I played in my first tournament when I was 12 and enjoyed it so much, I just kept on playing,” said Braxton who is also in the Bobcat band, the National Honor Society and did powerlifting until this year.
Braxton has been to the state golf tournament three straight years, but his golf coach Kevin Korstjens says he thinks it was in his sophomore year that he saw Turner really emerge.
“I think his big moment was in district play his sophomore year when he needed a big finish to qualify for state and he made some really clutch shots down the stretch to do it. He’s really a grinder and never lets outside influences rattled him.”
Braxton says he’s worked hard on his short game this past off-season and it’s making a difference.
“In Oklahoma’s weather it’s nearly impossible to reach every green in regulation so having a strong short game helps with that. I’ve also changed putters and I’ve seen my scores go from the mid-80s to the mid-70s.”
Now as a senior leader, Braxton recalls his freshman year when he learned a valuable lesson.
“My first year, I was the only freshman on the team, so I dealt more with socialization skills and building relationships than golf skills, and I think that’s helps me build relationships now with the younger players.”
Though he’s been to state three times, he says it never gets old and it’s always different.
“My three trips to state have been totally different experiences. New players, new course, different coaches and then there’s always the weather.”
Braxton has an academic scholarship to attend Oklahoma City University and plans to walk on to play golf rather than take an athletic scholarship away from someone else.
