Published: May 12, 2008 11:55 am         

Taking aim at a state golf crown

By Charles Prince

The North Jefferson News



Sometimes it takes a while before a teenager finds his niche in the world. For Gardendale sophomore Trey Mullinax, he found his sport when he was in the seventh grade. Mullinax had tried out for the school baseball team, but didn’t make it through the final cut. But soon after, he heard about tryouts for another sport—golf—and he thought he’d give it a his best shot.

“After I didn’t make the baseball team, I went to the golf tryouts and made it,” Mullinax said. “And I’ve been playing ever since.”

Not only has Mullinax been played the game since seventh grade, but he’s also played very well since then.

As an eighth grader in 2006, he qualified for the state 5A tournament and finished 20th. Last year as a freshman, he finished eighth at state. Then, last week, he won the individual title at the 5A sub-state tournament in Cullman, by shooting a 72. Mullinax is hoping to carry that momentum over into state tournament at Florence on May 12-13.

“I want to win, everyone playing wants to,” Mullinax said. “But, I’d be happy with a top five finish. I’ve been in the top 20 for two years, so I think I can finish higher this year. I’m working hard to win it, I’ll tell you that.”

The 72 Mullinax shot at the Cullman course was his low 18-hole round of the year, but his low 9-hole round score this year was 4-under par on two different courses.

The first 4-under came in a match against Clay-Chalkville at the Grayson Valley course and the second came against Shades Valley at Gardendale’s home course—the Castle Pines Country Club.

The 15-year-old is spending extra time this week concentrating on his short game. To Mullinax’s way of thinking, he didn’t hit the ball last week as well as he should have. This week, Mullinax is spending more time than usual hitting practice shots with his 9-iron and pitching wedge.

“I plan on hitting about 50 balls with each,” Mullinax said. “I didn’t strike the ball well in the short game and I’ll have to do better at state.”

One area Mullinax is banking on to keep him in contention at state, is his consistency off the tee. At the sub-state meet, he hit 11-of-14 fairways and hit 14-of-18 greens in regulation.

“I’m hitting the ball good off the tee. I hit a lot of greens in regulation and I hit a lot of fairways, but I’ve got to work on my putting this weekend,” Mullinax said. “I hear the greens there is much tougher than the ones in Cullman.”

The state tournament will be contested on the Fighting Joe course in Florence.

“I’ve been told the Fighting Joe is a tough course with lots of water and fairways that can be tough to hit,” he added.

Mullinax’s early success with a game he’s played for only three years, probably shouldn’t surprise anyone. His father Chip played college golf at both Alabama-Birmingham and the University of Alabama.

According to the younger Mullinax, he’s hopes to follow in his father’s footsteps.

“My dad’s pretty happy that I’ve done so well since I started playing,” Mullinax said. “He works with me sometimes and we’re hoping I can become a good enough golfer to earn a college scholarship. I don’t care where I’d have to play, I’d play for any college who wanted me enough to give me a scholarship.”

With his graduation more than two years away, Mullinax can focus on taming the Fighting Joe course over the 36-hole state tourney, while still keeping an eye on his future.

“I want to keep getting better,” he said. “I want to hit any shot I want. I want to be able to manage a course and know what shot to take, without having to ask someone’s advice on what kind of a shot I should hit. I love to laugh and cut-up while I’m on the course and have a good time while I’m playing. I just love golf. I used to play to be around my friends, but now I play for the love of the game.”