Sweet Sensations

By TJ MAXWELL Cove Leader-Press The Copperas Cove golf program has taken major strides over the past few years and looks to improve even more, starting on Monday. Eight golfers from Cove will compete against some of the top talents in the sport when they play in the Starburst Junior Golf Classic. Varsity players Mikayla Miller and Tyler Morrison will represent Cove for the girls while Austin Fredrickson, Travis Dewald, Bryce Anderson and Bryce Ranes will represent the boys’ varsity. Also competing from Cove middle schools will be young phenom Elle Fox for the girls and up-andcomer D. J. Dewald for the boys. “Competing in the Starburst means I get to show my abilities, and for all the people who helped me get here, I get to do them justice for all the time and effort they’ve put in for me,” said Miller. “I have so many  eople you have supported my career and now it’s a chance for me to prove to them it has been worth it and you haven’t wasted your efforts.” Around 1,000 players are expected o compete on nine different courses in Central Texas. Cove’s players will play on courses in Waco,  len Rose, Killeen Temple and Whitney. Miller, a senior, will represent her Lady Dawgs on the big stage onelast time before embarking to an even  bigger stage – the world of collegiategolf.  The Starburst is going to be myfirst big tournament since our district competition, so it’s really a transition from my high school career to  my collegiate career. I have to do this in-between, individual section this summer where I’m kind of all on my own. It really puts the pressure back on me and not relying on my friends and teammates to help me get to where I need to be.” Miller will play for Southwestern University when their season gets underway in September. Morrison, who was the sole representative for Cove at the UIL Region II-6A tournament, finished fifth in her age 16 group at last year’s Starburst Classic. Her three-round total of 252 was seven strokes shy of the lead. Miller finished 24th in the same group.Representing the boys for the final time is Austin Fredrickson. The senior has been a stable cog on a vastly improved boys’ squad. Fredrickson believes the Starburst will help continue that growth. “Over the four years that I’ve been playing, the golf program has really grown a lot,” said Fredrickson. “Once you get more kids competing in summer tournaments and stuff like that, they get better and more prepared for the University Interscholastic League (UIL) and it might bring a  couple more people for out the team itself.” “It means a lot because I get to go represent my school in a bigger tournament like the Starburst,” added Fredrickson. “I’m glad that I got the opportunity to go play in this tournament.” The boys finished fourth at the 12-6A District Tournament with two top 11 finishers. One of the youngest - but maybe most developed golfers - Elle Fox is also making her return to the Starburst Classic. Fox, who has been playing since age eight, knows the competition level is fierce and she’ll need to be on top of her game to c ome out atop the leader board. “There are a lot of good players there,” she said. “I have to play at my best level. I want to shoot in the 70s. That’s going to be hard, but I’m going to do my best. There are a lot of good there from California and other places.” Fox finished 7th in the age 11 group at last year’s Starburst. Fox will be competing in IMG Worlds at Torrey Pines in California next month. Familiarity of the tournament will help all of the players except Dewald, who is the only player competing at Starburst for the first time. Experience does help, says Fredrickson. “I know more now about the  ourses I’m playing,” he said. “That helps because last year when I went in, I didn’t know anything about the courses. This year, I have a better advantage about knowing how to play the courses.” “The competition level is going to be really high,” he added. “Me, being an average golfer, and some of these kids being out of this world good, I’m going to do my best to compete against them.” Miller is ready to get back to action after a long layoff from high-level golf and what better place to get things started then at a top-tier event like the Starburst. “The Starburst is my favorite tournament,” she said. “It ends up being the first or second week of summer and really kicks off the summer season. It’s a really big tournament and it mirrors a professional event – obviously not to the same extent. For junior golfers, it’s great for themto see how they come in and register and see all the excitement  and hype around it. It’s good for them to see you can’t win on the first day, you have to play your hardest for three days. It’s a mental challenge, in addition to the physical challenge of that many holes in a series.” Fox and D.J. Dewald represent the future of Cove golf and Fox wants to continue her golf career and eventually lead the Lady Dawgs’  varsity program to the top.“I really like the game and I think it’s the best game for me,” she said. “I have to work on my mental game. It’s hard, but I still love it. In high school, I want to be the best student in academics and my golf and I want to bring my team to a district title.” The competitor in all of them wants to bring home a medal to Cove, but they would just be happy playingtheir best. After all – in golf  you’re competing against yourself and the course.“Obviously, winning would sure help, but just meeting some personal goals and finishing strong would be great,” said Miller. “It’s always been a struggle to keep your head about you for the whole tournament and not get discouraged or too excited and then lose it. Just keeping a level head and staying calm through the nervousness andexcitement is vital.” For more information on the tournament or to track players’ progress throughout the tournament visit starburstgolf. com and click on results.