THE TOWNS COUNTY HERALD May 8, 2013 Page 9A Towns County Sports Towns County’s Leader In Sports ooolgofk[gmflq`]jYd\f]lÛÝÛ<¤eYadÛl[`]jYd\³oaf\klj]Yef]l missed approach shot and is not Morgan Bradshaw signs with Young Harris Joe exactly what you were trying Collins to do. This scenario is what By Joe Collins makes the half shot so frustrat- Towns County Herald ing because you just missed an easier shot and now you are Staff Writer Tips from the Range faced with a more difficult shot than you had previously. Have Towns County High This week’s tips will ex- tend the short game lesson of last you ever been in this position? If School senior Morgan Brad- week. It will interest those of you play golf a lot you have, and shaw describes herself as you who play golf on a regular will in the future if you haven’t unique in the gift she has been basis and find yourself with a yet, so here is what to do when given as an intense competitor. shot that is not quite full. Many it happens. That intensity has led her down of these shots are approach shots First, don’t get mad at a path that many young ladies that affect the position of the ball yourself for missing the easy her age are not familiar with on the green and have a direct shot. Stay calm and focus on because of the effort it requires influence on your overall score. the next shot to be played. Play to succeed. These shots, that are not quite the game one shot at a time. You She has signed a scholar- full yardage shots, are typically probably still have a chance to ship with Young Harris Col- played with the shortest iron in make par so follow the bad a lege and starting May 31st your bag and are called “half shot with a good one and let the she will become a Mountain shots”. These shots range from putter save you. Lion competitive cheerleader. 10 yards up to 75 yards and can Next, find a comfort- This makes Bradshaw the first Morgan Bradshaw with Principal Roy Perren and YHC Head Cheerleading Coach Chase Carter. test your patience to the fullest. able stance over the ball that ever-competitive cheerleader to Photo/Lowell Nicholson Many clubs are broken within is slightly open with the hands sign with a NCAA Division II to enhance their abilities and a day while training. I stretch I’m not scared at all and I look this short yardage range by ahead of the ball and club head. school from TCHS. talents. Travel Ball, as it is and workout with light weights forward to getting started.” frustrated golfers. Make sure you are balanced Bradshaw began her ca- commonly called, is popular doing a lot of repetitions while YHC will field two teams The key to striking these and centered. Keep the lower reer in gymnastics and found in sports such as baseball, bas- watching what I eat. Although, of competitive cheerleaders shots cleanly is the same as short body quite by allowing most herself right where she wanted ketball, softball and soccer but I have been known to eat up to this season and Bradshaw will game shots and that is accel- of your weight to stay on the to be. many don’t realize these teams five donuts for breakfast, but be placed on either the large or eration. Just like chipping and front foot and don’t promote a “I love the intensity of exist in the world of competi- not during training. The sport small co-ed team after camp in putting, it is the acceleration of weight transfer through the legs. gymnastics and I learned early tive cheerleading as well, and is just to demanding.” Myrtle Beach. She has a strong the club head that is important Use your shoulders to control on that this was the sport for Bradshaw fits right in. Bradshaw is interested in faith in God and places herself when faced with these little the club away from the ball me,” Bradshaw said. “I trained “I had just turned fifteen pursuing a career in teaching in His hands, monsters. All too often we make during the take away and keep hard and was doing really well years old when I was introduced after college and will major in “I feel that God has led me a backswing that is way to long your wrists from hinging on the until I inured my wrist vaulting to the world of competitive education at YHC. to this sport for whatever reason and find the club slowing down backswing. This will help you accelerate through impact. at the age of thirteen. It took cheerleading,” Bradshaw said. “I love children and I and I thank Him for it,” Brad- as it approaches impact and this a full year to heal and by that will cause all sorts of problems. Finally, let the shoulders “I loved to tumble and work want to work as a fourth grade shaw said. “My wrist injury sent move the club back and through. time it was clear that my days on routines in gymnastics and teacher when I graduated,” me in this direction and I will do You will see fat shots, skulls that fly across the green like Make sure the backswing is as a gymnast were over. I was my talents are perfect for the Bradshaw said. “One of my the best I can to honor Him in shorter than the follow through. working with the coach from bullets, shanks and high lofted sport. I had ten years of training favorite things to do is work my career. My dad is the Youth short little nothings that leave A backswing that is longer than Dawson County and she of- and experience in gymnastics with the younger students at the Minister at our church and he you with a long putt because you the follow through will cause fered me a chance to be on the and the sport just seemed to Mountain Gymnastics Center and my mom are my biggest sup- slowed the club down through the club to slow down through girl’s competitive cheerleading fit. Competitive Cheerleading and I will go there and help porters along with my brother impact. It will drive you crazy impact instead of speeding up. squad and that provided me the requires a diversity of talents whenever they need me. Shelly who attends Valdosta State. I and can even make the preacher Keep your eye on the ball and opportunity I was looking for to and my training qualified me Thomas is one of my mentors know they are praying for me cuss. Trust me, I’ve heard it! don’t move your head. If you pursue my love of gymnastics to participate.” and I love to go there and help. and that gives me strength. I The best way to combat move your head, the shoulders and the intense competition it Competitive Cheerlead- I will always try and go when praise God for them.” these shots is to try and avoid will dip and change your spine provided.” ing is a very demanding sport she calls. It’s tough to teach the Competitive Cheerleading them. Use your game man- angle and you will hinder solid Bradshaw began work- and requires the athletes that little ones but I like it.” is a tough sport but Bradshaw is agement to leave you with a impact. ing with an All-Star team at compete to be in top physical Bradshaw’s college ca- a tough competitor. She plans to comfortable yardage into the The half shot is one of the Dawson, and within a short form. Injuries are common in reer will start on May 31 as the be at YHC at least two years and green. For example: If you are hardest shots in golf and must be period of time, she had found the sport so the girls, and guys, YHC teams travel to Myrtle is interested in the possibility of good with your sand wedge and practiced. When you practice her calling. All-Star com- must be in shape. Beach to attend a collegiate moving to Division I if the future can consistently hit it a certain these shots, judge how far back petitive cheerleading teams are “We don’t really have cheerleading camp. holds that for her. yardage then try and hit a club a comfortable backswing will what many know as “traveling an off-season because we have “Our goal will be to re- Right now her priority from the tee or fairway that cause the ball to travel in the squads.” Several of the young to train and prepare our bod- ceive an NCAA bid and com- is getting ready for the upcom- will leave you that comfortable air. Be aggressive and don’t be athletes in Towns County are ies all year,” Bradshaw said. pete at the national level,” ing season and doing the best yardage from the green on your scared. Allow the back shoulder involved in these off campus “We work on conditioning Bradshaw said. “I specialize that she can to try and help the approach. Don’t hit a club that to do its work and keep the club athletic teams and travel during constantly and I workout often in tumbling and I hope I can Mountain Lions of YHC win a will leave you with less than a moving.