Washington County Enterprise-Leader
Lady Cardinals Aim To Swing For State Green FARMINGTON SENIORS SET EARLY GOAL FOR TEAM
FARMINGTON — Farmington seniors, Camden Burris and Brooklyn Warren, have their sights set on qualifying a full team for the State 5A golf tournament this year.
Their season officially began with a competition at Farmington’s Valley View Golf Course Aug. 1. No matter that former 4A-1 rival, Pea Ridge, claimed girls team title with a team total of 154 with Swope, 47; Roses, 53; and Hickman, 54; filling out score cards. Burris, 43; and Warren, 49; have a long-term vision while anxiously awaiting the arrival of 16-year-old senior Jamie Amerine and sophomore Jordan Horm to give Farmington a full girls squad.
On Aug. 2, the Farmington girls competed at Oak Ridge against host, Huntsville, and Eureka Springs. Burns shot a 45 and Warren stroked a 46 with both placing ahead of a trio of Huntsville girls. Burris enjoys golf. “I’m thankful for the experience golf has given me.”
Burris shot a 93 at Cabot to qualify for the 2015 State meet and makes no bones about what she wants the team to accomplish this year.
“We’d like to go to state this year as a team,” Burris said. “Two girls went last year, but the whole team didn’t.”
Warren missed out last year, but passionately wants to include the event on her list of senior experiences.
“That’s something I’ve never got to do,” Warren said.
Both girls attribute their zeal for the game as coming from time spent with their fathers on the green as youngsters.
“My dad ( Greg Burris) has always played golf, so I grew up watching him play,” Burris said.
She started playing as a sophomore and has improved under the tutelage of Farmington coach Randy Osnes, who noted Burris’ good start to the 2016 season.
“She has been our medalist at both of our last two matches that we’ve played,” Osnes said during a Thurs- day morning practice held at Valley View.
Burris said Osnes points out the stuff she’s doing wrong and has been a big support the whole time she’s playing.
“I’ve gotten a lot better,” Burris said.
Warren’s father, Donnie Warren, took his daughter along when playing golf. She, too, has picked up the game.
“I went out on the course with him when I was little,” Warren said.
She came out for the sport as a freshman and has seen herself get better.
Each girl has an older brother, who left their mark at Farmington High School. Collin Burris, 19, graduated as Valedictorian of the Class of 2015; and Brennan Warren, 21, (Class of 2013) was an outstanding defensive lineman for the football team, helping the Cardinals reach the state semifinals in 2011 highlighted by uprooting Heber Springs’ offense in a 28-12 upset by the Cardinals on the road.
Warren has also benefited from Osnes’ coaching, admitting she has learned how to move on to the next hole when things don’t go as expected.
The girls like the challenge of playing different courses.
“When we go out to Huntsville, it’s a much harder walk,” Warren said, contrasting that experience with the 2015 district meet at Cabot. “The greens were so much faster at Cabot. We weren’t used to that. There’s always a huge difference between every course.”
Burris said those differences force players to adjust their game.
“It makes for a long day if we don’t talk to each other,” Burris said. “Especially during districts because we share motel rooms.”
Both girls feel communicating with their roommates on the road helps them become more relaxed on the course.
“I’ve definitely gained more confidence, not only in my game; but being out there with people I don’t know,” Warren said.
Burris identifies with the perspective.
“I agree, now, we have memories of all the people we have gotten to play golf with,” Burris said. “You learn how to be less shy through golf because you have to play with all these strangers all the time.”