Chasing a spot among the state’s best, McAlester junior golfer Kennedy Young is dialed in on every swing, every round and every moment this season. His focus starts with a clear objective he carries into each tournament. “Place top ten in state,” Young said.
Around him, the Buffaloes share that same hunger to compete. “Everyone is looking forward to have a great year,” he said of the team’s morale. “I think everyone wants to win state and we’ve been trying to work hard to try to get there.”
For Young, the foundation of that pursuit is simple. “Hard work,” he said. “We want it more than anyone out there.” That mentality shows up both in-season and in the months when there are no scorecards or leaderboards. “Over the off-season, I’ve been on the course trying to practice tough shots, not just the easy ones,” he said.
His preparation centers on the part of the game that often separates good players from great ones. “I try to really get the short game dialed in,” Young said. That attention to detail shapes the way he practices and competes under pressure.
Young also takes pride in the kind of teammate he is. “I’m trying to play as an encouraging teammate and a good player all-around,” he said. “Having each other’s backs” is how he describes one of the team’s biggest strengths
On the mental side, Young keeps his approach steady and confident. “I want to think positive, no negative thoughts,” he said. Music helps him settle in and stay relaxed before a round. “Anything by Drake, clean of course,” he said of his pre-tournament playlist.
Even with serious goals, there is room for lighter moments that become lasting memories. “It was last year, but probably when Nate Eaton dropped his bag in the pond,” Young said, recalling his favorite memory.
Young has a clear picture of how he wants his time at McAlester to be remembered and where the game can take him next. “I want to be one of the best that has ever come through McAlester” he said. His future plans include “playing golf in college and getting a course management degree.”
