Just two months ago, 13-year-old Brad Dalke was competing in the Under Armour® / Hunter Mahan Championship as one of the youngest juniors in the field. At the time, he was No. 858 in the Polo Golf Rankings and playing in his fifth AJGA event. Today, Dalke sits among some of the world’s best junior golfers at the FJ Invitational and has climbed to No. 7 in the Polo Golf Rankings.
Since April, Dalke finished second at the Laredo Energy Junior at Traditions and was victorious at Grayhawk Golf Club in the Thunderbird International Junior, becoming the youngest boy to win an Invitational in AJGA history.
“I went into Thunderbird just trying to get in the top half,” Dalke said. “After the first few days I had a chance to win and it was pretty fun to be able to go through from the first and last day shooting a good round felt awesome.”
As the youngest of seven children, Dalke found his niche to golf at a young age and he continues to improve as he grows older.
“My dad and I would always challenge each other,” Dalke said. “It really got my competitive spirits up.”
Dalke’s competitive edge continues to be displayed throughout his young golf career. Not only has Dalke jumped in the Polo Golf Rankings, his confidence to play with the best is always in mind.
His sights are set on earning a spot on the West Wyndham Cup Team this July, and he plans to play in tournaments ranging from the Junior PGA Championship to the Evian Masters Junior Cup in France.
“I go in there and I know I’m the youngest but I have to go in there and know that I can compete with these guys even on a bad day I’m still in there with them,” Dalke said. “You know to play your best and it doesn’t matter your age you still have to play well.”
By Denae Olberding, AJGA Communications
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