Campbell fiercely dedicated to his craft
Fort Bend Christian’s Stephen Campbell never slows down.
After verbally committing to play golf at Oklahoma, and then winning the TAPPS 5A individual state championship with a record-setting performance, all in April, the incoming senior pivoted to preparing for a hectic summer filled with American Junior Golf Association tournaments, including the prestigious Wyndham Cup on June 30-July 3 at Old Town Club in WinstonSalem, N.C.
Campbell out-dueled Second Baptist’s Travis Vick, a Texas signee who won the state championship last year, firing a
TAPPS state-record round of 61 on Day 1 en route to a two-day 131 — which tied a state record — and two-stroke win over Vick and Grapevine Faith Christian’s Jase Summy.
“This 2020 grad is turning heads and catching attention early,” said Robert Cagle, vice president of public relations and national scouting director at National Scouting Report, who Campbell said set him on the path toward signing with the Sooners. “Stephen has the determination, dedication and commitment that I rarely see in young athletes. He has a work ethic that is refreshing to see.
“He plays the game with intensity and does a great job of managing the course and himself while he plays.”
That determination and dedication also made Campbell the
All-Greater Houston Boys Golfer of the Year.
Q: You made your third appearance at state in April, but your first trip didn’t go so well, and you finished well out of contention — 19 strokes behind Vick — after struggling with your putting. Then later you found out you played the state tournament with a broken putter. When did you realize it?
A: “The head pro at my golf club came out there (the next week), and he was looking at my putter, tinkering around with it, and he said ‘This putter’s broken.’ The head was actually bent a few degrees, due to the weather in Texas, and the glue had melted off, the epoxy, so it moved the club face in deviation about 1 or 2 degrees, and that is huge with putting.”
Q: So then the struggles with your putting kind of made sense?
A: “Correct. But honestly, it was a relief, figuring that out. I hated that putter anyway. So I made the putter change, and now we’re rolling.”
Q: Still, you finished second to Vick at state last year. How did that impact you going into this season?
A: “It was heartbreaking coming in second. I battled it out with Travis Vick. That was really fun. I just gave a couple shots up late, and he took advantage of them, and he won by a stroke. So this year at state it was really good to get my revenge, and win by (two) shots, but hats off to Travis. It was a lot of fun battling him the last two years at state, and I look forward to seeing him at Texas, and continuing the rivalry.”
Q: Your state-record 61 on Day 1 included three eagles, and you were putting so well, you shrugged off two bogies. Where does that round rank in your career?
A: “Honestly, that was probably the best round I’ve ever had, especially putting-wise.”
Q: What was your reaction to winning a state title?
A: “It was a big relief for me, more than a celebration; relief, like I did it, I got my revenge, and it felt really satisfying.”
Q: Going back to your putting, you said you suffered a wrist injury in November, and the only thing you could do while recovering was putt, so you focused on that part of your game. Did that pay off at state?
A: “I think so. Coming back, I was waiting for a big round of putting, to kind of unleash, because I’ve had some solid putting rounds but nothing crazy low. And I started off the round making a 50-footer and a 30-footer for birdie, make a 15-footer for eagle, and we’re 4-under through three, and I’m making putts left and right. Every time I stepped on the green, I felt like the hole was a basket.”
Q: You verbally committed to OU and won a state championship in April. Best month ever?
A: “It was a pretty good month, I have to tell you. That was really awesome. When I committed to OU, I’ve never felt such peace over any decision I’ve made in my life.”
Q: It’s definitely one of the most important decisions. What all went into it for you?
A: “When they started recruiting me in June, I really didn’t think much about it, but I told my mom, ‘This is pretty cool, that’s your alma mater.’ She (Elissa Walker-Campbell) played college basketball there. So that was a cool experience, and then we didn’t come into contact for a while, but in September I gave them a phone call, and (OU coach) Ryan Hybl and I hit it off, and it was really a great conversation. So I became more and more interested in the program.”
Q: Cagle had a lot of great things to say about you on his website. What would you say are your greatest attributes as a player?
A: “I would say my consistency, on the golf course, and my demeanor. I’m consistent off the tee. I hit around 11 fairways a round, in my estimation, on average … and I never get too high or too low on the golf course. If it’s a big-time, pressure-situation, and we’re in contention, and I make a big putt, or something like that, I might give a fist pump, or something extra, but other than that, we’re very Brooks Koepkaesque — just walk the course, whatever happens, happens, shrug it off if you hit a bad shot, and go out and hit the next one.”