Eli Walker proved this past spring that he was one of the best small school prep golfers in north Louisiana and in Division IV of the LHSAA. After his impressive finish in the Louisiana Junior Golf Tour (LJGT) event held at Cane Row Golf Club in New Iberia this past Thursday and Friday, the talented linkster who preps at Quitman High School has now shown he can compete with anyone from any school in the state.
Proving the “big fish” from a small pond could swim strongly in larger waters, Walker placed 7th overall while competing against the best 60 golfers in the state the Class of 2024 has to offer. This includes firing the best score of any “small school” golfer.
Walker wasn’t the only one from Jackson Parish to “represent” as Tayt Culpepper of Weston also had a fine tournament, carding rounds of 75 -78 (153) to nab a top twenty finish.
Were it not for a horrific start to the tourney, Walker would have made an even stronger run at medalist honors. While he didn’t top the field on the course, he did take a victory over another kind of foe – adversity. Not once, but twice.
After the first four holes, Walker was sitting at four over par leading to a five over par score of 41 at the turn. It was a critical point in the tourney as it would have been easy to just pack it in but showing his character and determination, Walker steadied himself to fire three birdies on the back nine to overcome the bad start.
Just when it seemed that things were looking up, adversity rose up to hit him again, even harder this time. It looked like a knockout punch had been delivered when Walker needed seven strokes to complete the second hole on day two, the most he had carded on a single hole in competition this year.
Once again, Walker showed his grit. On the strength of three birdies down the stretch Walker stormed back to turn in the lowest score over the final 16 holes and one of only ten, under par rounds completed over the two days.
In the end, the results of the tourney carried a dual role. Walker’s top ten finish against mortal competition was impressive. The two mental victories over adversity will be more important.
For final tournament results click here.
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