It takes a lot to get Cade Lott flustered.
Whether it’s football, basketball, or golf, Lott typically plays with a positive attitude and always has a smile ready to go.
But Mother Nature put the Heritage Academy junior’s attitude to the test Tuesday.
Despite gusts of up to 30 mph, Lott shook off being blown off his tee shots on multiple occasions and didn’t allow three shots into the water to knock him off his game. Lott adjusted and overcame the conditions to shoot a 77 and earn medalist honors at Heritage Academy’s nine-team invitational at Columbus Country Club.
For his accomplishment, Lott is The Dispatch’s Prep Player of the Week.
“I hit it into the water three times and still shot 77, so I could have scored a lot better, but a win is a win, so I will take it,” Lott said.
Lott celebrated his 17th birthday Monday by helping to lead the Patriots to a second team title in as many events this season. Lott shot a 79 as Heritage Academy had a team score of 312 in its win at Indian Hills Country Club in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Monday’s performance in Tuscaloosa, Ala., was far different from the one Lott and his teammates delivered last week. Pushed all over the course by a whipping wind, Lott remained patient, backed away from his ball when he needed to, and showed a keen ability to hit spots and to judge how much the wind would affect his shots.
Last April, Lott shot 79 on a windy day at Columbus Country Club. He said there was a pretty good difference between the conditions on the course from last year to this year.
“You just have to play a whole different game,” Lott said. “You just have to set up your tee shots different and try to hit different shots.”
Lott hit three tee shots into the water and recovered from each one. Even though he shot a bogey on No. 8, a double bogey on No. 12, and a bogey on No. 18, those results didn’t prevent him from taking first. In fact, they fit nicely with the philosophy of Heritage Academy golf coach Ed Lott, Cade’s uncle, who stresses to his golfers that they need to play safely and smartly. If that means playing it safe and taking a bogey, that’s what they need to do and then forget that hole and regroup.
Lott followed that game plan Tuesday, even when he hit a shot he didn’t like.
“I am not a frustrated person at all,” Lott said. “I stay happy all of the time and I am out there to have a good time and to have fun. I just put it behind me. If you keep the past with you, you’re not going to get better.”
Ed Lott said the conditions last week at Columbus Country Club erased any home-course advantage the Patriots might have had. He said the 30-mph gusts made it particularly challenging and forced golfers to make up to three-club adjustments at each hold.
Lott said Cade made the changes and adjusted to winds that blew in different directions to earn medalist honors.
“The older he has gotten the better he has understood you don’t have to hit every shot perfect,” Ed Lott said. “Even Tiger Woods can’t hit every shot perfect. The object of the game is to have the lowest score and when you hit a bad shot you need miss it straight, and he has been able to do that.”
Cade Lott credits his father, Toby, and his grandfather, Tommy, for helping introduce him to golf as early as 7 years old. He feels the sport is “in his genes,” which gives him confidence he can improve even more. He feels his consistency — particularly with his iron shots — has improved and will help set him up for even better rounds this season.
Lott said he was happy with his score Tuesday but that he knows he has to continue to get better to help Heritage Academy defend its state title. If the opportunity comes his way, Lott also said he would consider an opportunity to play golf in college. If not, he said he would examine studying golf management at Mississippi State University.
Until then, Lott said he will continue to hone his skills so he can stay focused and roll with any obstacles that might come his way.
“On a couple of holes, I was aiming straight at trees the wind was blowing so hard,” Lott said. “You just have to hit it and hope it comes back.”
n Evan McElrath earned medalist honors Monday with a 75. He won the event on the second playoff hole after he, Ford Manderson, of Morgan Academy (Selma, Ala.), and Tuscaloosa Academy’s Jake DeZoort were tied after 18 holes. McElrath and Manderson parred the first playoff hole. McElrath parred the second playoff hole to take the individual title.
Konrad Vernon (78), Lott (79), Hunter Anderson (80), and Mark Adams (81) scored for the Patriots. Douglas Kilarski (96) played as an individual for Heritage Academy, which will play next Wednesday at the Country Club of Jackson in a public/private event hosted by Jackson Academy and Jackson Prep.
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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