Lyon County sophomore Cathryn Brown, left, with state champion Macey Brown of Apollo at the state golf tournament. (Emily Brown Photo)
Getting to play in the last group on the final day of the girls state high school golf tournament last weekend and finishing in the top 10 were both terrific accomplishments. But for Lyon County sophomore Cathryn Brown, her seventh-place finish at last week’s state tourney was even more meaningful. Not only has she had to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic but her brother, University of Kentucky golfer Cullan Brown, died at age 20 in August about a year after being diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a form of bone cancer, in his left thigh.
Brown had a 3-over par 75 in round one in Bowling Green where her brother won his state title and she came back with a 77 — she did birdie her final hole — to finish 8-over par and seven shots off the winning score.
“I am super proud of her,” her mother, Emily Brown, said. “She is real close to being where she wants to be. The putter was not there (on the final day) but she hit her driver like a champ.”
No one would have been prouder than her brother. He told me two years ago if his sister decided to make golf her primary sport instead of basketball that she could be special. She was 12th in the 2019 state tourney and her mother says she may have “flipped” to golf over basketball as her primary sport.
Her play in Bowling Green at the state tourney showed not only the talent she has but how tough mentally she is despite being 15 years old.
“It was very emotional,” Emily Brown said. “She is one tough cookie. She can put it in gear and focus on what she needs to do. That’s pretty cool and is just part of the territory we are in as a family.
“She knows there are certain things we have to do each day to get by. I have described her as my tough girl. Fortunately she has an abundance of wonderful friends and a strong support system.”
No one is a bigger supporter/role model than LGPA Tour regular Emma Talley of nearby Caldwell County. Cullan Brown counted Talley as his role model and often played practice rounds with her.
“Emma has been a God-send,” Emily Brown said. “She takes her to practice (when she’s home). She calls or texts at least once every day just checking in and encouraging her. The first text she got (after the state tourney ended) was from Emma. There is just not a finer young lady than Emma.”
Talley said she was proud of Brown’s play at the state tourney. Talley won the state title three times — and would have won a fourth if she had not disqualified herself for signing an incorrect scorecard.
“Obviously the Browns have gone through a lot this year and she has really worked hard,” Talley said. “I know Cullan would be proud of her, Emily, and (his father) Rodney. I wish I could have been there to root her on. I can’t wait to see her continue to work hard and see where it takes her.”
Cathryn’s mother said she worked “extremely hard” on her golf game over the summer and is even contemplating not playing basketball this season to concentrate even more on golf.
“I am not real sure she is going to do that. I think playing and being on the basketball team would be good for her but she is really into golf now,” Emily Brown said. “She knew she had a shot at it (state championship), so she was disappointed but a top 10 finish was one of her goals this year.”
Emily Brown said the support her daughter and family have received has been overwhelming at times and a huge help the last few months.
“We appreciate all the support and prayers we have gotten and that Cathryn got at the state tournament,” Emily Brown said. “There are not many words of comfort and we just have to learn a new normal. It has been torture. No parent should ever go through this and that’s why all the great support has meant so much to all of us.”
