Blanchard’s Braxton Turner
Blanchard High School sophomore Braxton Turner is still early in his high school golf career, but he already carries the mindset of a seasoned player. Inspired by legends, driven by discipline and surrounded by close friends on the course, he is working to turn potential into consistent results for the Lions boys golf program.
Turner, a 10th-grader, points first to Tiger Woods when asked who he looks up to in the sport. “Tiger Woods inspires me because no matter the discrimination he got, he found a way to become the best golfer in the world,” Turner said. “I also admire his mentality and how he wanted to win any and every tournament he was in no matter how young he was or how hard the competition was.”
That competitive approach has shaped the way Turner practices and plays. He learned early that nothing in golf, or life, is guaranteed. “Nothing comes easy, you have to work for everything that you want whether it’s getting strong in the gym or hitting consistently good golf shots,” Turner said.
On the course, Turner has built his game around one of the most demanding areas for any golfer: the short game. He said chipping used to be the weakest part of his game, but he turned it into a strength through repetition and focus. “My chipping, I noticed early in my game that it was my weakest point, and I was able to get it to be one of my strongest,” Turner said. Fittingly, his favorite club is his 60-degree wedge, which features a $100 bill design and has become his go-to around the greens. “It always puts me close to the hole on my chips, so I don’t have to worry about three-putting,” he said.
Turner also studies the modern power game. He admires Bryson DeChambeau for his unique approach and ability to overpower courses off the tee. “He is unique in the golf industry being able to drive the ball like no one else,” Turner said.
Some of his favorite golf memories come from outside high school tournaments. He recalls shooting an 82 at The Club at Lake Sinclair in Georgia, a round made special by family and a milestone shot. “This was special because I was playing in Georgia with my grandmas and got my first eagle, for fun not competition,” Turner said.
Away from golf, Turner enjoys spending time with his girlfriend, hanging out with friends and keeping up with school, where math is his favorite subject. He credits his cousin, math teacher Mrs. Robertson, for helping him develop a love for numbers and for making every student feel important in her class.
Whether he is working in the classroom or grinding on the practice green, Turner leans on the support of his teammates, who are also some of his closest friends. “I enjoy that I’m not just playing with teammates but my friends and after a bad shot they always pick me up,” he said.
