Cameron’s Galvan looks to go out on a high note

Like most golfers that come through Cameron, Kegan Galvan got her start playing golf at a young age at the local course.

When she was 10, her dad joined the country club, allowing the youngster to get her hands on a set of golf clubs. She has been making routine trips back down 21st street for eight years now, and it proven to be a good use of her time.

Next week, Galvan will be making her fourth and final appearance at the state golf tournament in Austin.

“She has been a number one or two player for this program the last three years,” said her coach Pete Magre. “Her freshman year, she was a two or three player every week, so she has been a vital part to this program. She is hands down our best player this year. This has been her best, and most consistent year, giving low score after low score. She has had a really good season for us.”

Galvan has made strides her entire career in Cameron. As a sophomore she broke 100, her junior year she got into the 80s, and just recently she carded a new career low with a 79, good enough for gold in the Glen Rose tournament. Like most successful athletes, Galvan has natural athletic ability, but she credits getting out and continuously working to her success.

“You have to come out here every day,” she said. “Whether it’s rainy, hot, cold or whatever, you have to be here and practice. Even it’s just 30 minutes working on your putting, everything helps. You can’t take any days off.”

Magre noted that while other players may not be able to rebound after a bad shot or a bad hole, Galvan is simply able to continue to stay focused on the bigger picture.

“She is even-keeled and she does not get very emotional,” Magre said. “All of these kids are ametures just like her, and she will hit some bad shots, but she seems to a better of most at shaking that off and going to the next shot. She takes care of the ball and does not hit it out of bounds much. She has a good short game. Even when she hits a bad shot, she can get it close to the green and recover.”

This eight year run of state tournament appearances for the program has been somewhat of a family tradition. Galvan’s cousin - Brittany Brashear - was on the team before she got to high school and competed at state for the Lady Yoe from 2011 to 2014.

“They had been there four years and she wanted me to keep it going and extend the tradition,” Galvan said. “She was someone that could help me practice and teach me the ropes. My cousin Tori also played.”

After graduation, Galvan will be attending Texas State University to major in nursing. She plans to take two years to get her basics before enrolling in the nursing program in Round Rock, followed by earning her masters to become a nurse practitioner.

Before that, she has one last tournament with her teammates Jazmin Vaculin, Carley Tucker, Emily Graham and Presley Berry, which finished second at regionals to earn the eighth straight trip to state. The team finished fifth at state a year ago and Galvan believes there is potential for this group to finish in the top three.

She realizes that it will be tough for her to personally medal, but at the same time she expects herself to show improvement, something she has a proven track record of doing.

“It’s hard to say because I know there are people that are better than me,” she said. “Last year I was in the top 30, so I would like to be in the top 15 or 20 this year.”

This will be Galvan’s last time to wear the maroon and grey, and she has one simple message for the girls that will be coming up to fill her shoes and continue the tradition.

“If I had to tell them one thing, don’t quit,” she said. “You are definitely going to miss it. I’m already thinking what am I going to do next year at this time. I’m not going to have golf and I’m not going to be at practice. Enjoy it while it lasts.”

Galvan said that once she tees off for the last time in Austin at 9:30 am there will be nerves, but from there on it’s another round of golf - one of many that she has played.