Blades Brown
Blades Brown (born May 21, 2007) 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 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 Golf Club during the 123rd U.S. Amateur hosted at Cherry Hills Country Club tying for first place in the tournament's stroke play portion.[2] Brown went on to win the 2023 Elite Invitational at the Tradition Golf Club in Pawleys Island, South Carolina with a final-round 64.
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 in the final round.[3] His impressive performance in the U.S. Amateur opened the door to a sponsor exemption allowing him to compete in 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.[5] As of November 2024, he is ranked no. 1 in the Junior Golf Scoreboard, no. 1 in the American Junior Golf Association and no. 79 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking.[6][5]
In May 2024, he and fellow Tennessean Jackson Herrington finished runner-up in the U.S. Amateur Four-Ball to Brian Blanchard and Sam Engel.[7]
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.[8]
Early life
[edit]From childhood, Brown was taught basketball as well as golf.[9] His older sister Millie was the main basketball protégé of their mother.[9] 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.[9] She played college basketball at UNC Asheville and University of Alabama Huntsville. Blades said his main childhood mission was "to be as good of a shooter as my sister is."[9]
Career
[edit]Brown won three TSSAA golf individual state championships for his high school, Nashville's Brentwood Academy.[5] In July, 2024, after his sophomore year, he announced he would leave his high school to better manage his golf schedule, and that he planned to continue his studies online.[6] He would be playing in some of the top tournaments in which amateurs are allowed to participate.[6]
References
[edit]- ^ Palmateer, Tyler (May 8, 2024). "Brentwood Academy's Blades Brown,16, making PGA Tour debut this week". The Tennessean. No. 110, Vol. 120. 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". NBC Sports. Retrieved May 12, 2024.
- ^ Robinson, George (September 19, 2023). "Good Company". The Tennessean. No. 221, Vol. 119. 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". Golf Digest. Retrieved May 12, 2024.
- ^ a b c Chastain, Austin (May 14, 2024). "A Spectacular Debut". The Tennessean. No. 115, Vol. 120. p. 2–B. Retrieved May 14, 2024.
- ^ a b c Palmateer, Tyler (July 9, 2024). "Brown is leaving Brentwood Academy". The Tennessean. No. 161, Vol. 120. p. 1–B.
- ^ "Brian Blanchard, Sam Engel claim U.S. Amateur Four-Ball title". ESPN. Associated Press. May 29, 2024. Retrieved June 1, 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". Denver Post. Retrieved May 13, 2024.