Truth be told, Olean High School senior Scott Brady rarely finds himself in the rough.

In each of his first three years as a member of the OHS squad, Brady has lowered his handicap.

“My freshman year, I was playing at 12,” he said. “My sophomore year, it was around five and, from the start of my junior year until the end of summer, I improved to a 1.7.”

That’s what Brady is most proud of as he heads into his final year of scholastic competition.

On Sunday, he signed a National Letter if Intent to attend St. Bonaventure next year.

Why Bona?

“I’ve always considered St. Bonaventure to be one of the best schools around for its business program,” said Brady.

Toss in the fact that he’s a life-long member of Bartlett Country Club, the Bonnies’ home course, and you would figure that would be an added plus for second-year Bona coach Andy Whelan.

“Clarion and St. John Fisher were also in my final three,” said Brady. “But I just couldn’t turn my back on the business degree I can get here at St. Bonaventure.”

Brady’s familiarity with Bartlett began lone before he ever learned how to swing a club.

“I’m a member,” said his father Jim, a two-time champion of the Southwestern New York/Northwestern Pennsylvania Men’s Amateur. “Scott used to walk the course with me when he was just three and four.

“I think the first time he played at Bartlett was when he was five. What sets Scott apart from me at his age is the fact that he’s a lot more consistent.”

To date, Scott’s best effort in the Men’s Amateur has been a berth in the Consolation Bracket semifinals.

Yet, even after 12 years of playing Bartlett, the younger Brady feels his game can still improve.

“I’m forever trying to make myself better,” he said. “I would say that I work harder at trying to improve my short game than anything else.

“But, overall, I just want to become the very best player I can become.”

Last year, Brady helped the Olean High team go 18-1, including a perfect 12-0 in the Chautauqua Cattaraugus Division I league.

In 27 of more than 33 events during this past year, Brady was the medalist 18 times and finished second on nine occasions. He also won the season-long point championship for the Penn-York Junior Golf League’s 16-18-year-old division.

“I’m happy to see where he decided to sign,” said OHS coach Carolyn Shields. “Scott has worked hard on his game and signing now will afford him the opportunity to enjoy his senior year without the added pressure of looking at schools.”

In evaluating Brady’s game, Shields noted, “Scott is a very good putter, there’s no question about his ability to read greens.

“He has an all-around solid game with his irons and, even though he’s not very big, he’s constantly long off the tees.

“You won’t find him wandering all over the course. He has good course management skills.

“Emotionally, Scott is one of the most even-tempered kids you will ever see on the golf course,” she added. “If I’m at a match, I can walk away to watch one of my other players and, when I catch up with him again, I can never tell if he just birdied, parred or bogeyed.

“He’s been on the varsity since his freshman year and, in all that time, I’ve never seen him lose his cool or even have a bad look on his face.”

She added, “Scott has an edge on the majority of players he faces when he plays Bartlett. But over the last two years, between tournaments I’ve gone to with him or his father, Scott has played on some tough courses and against some of the best juniors golfers around.

“Playing in the New York Amateur tournament this past summer exposed him to some great competition.”

And according to Shields, there’s bad news ahead for future Bona opponents.

“I don’t think Scott has played his best golf yet,” she said. “In the summer, when the Penn-York Junior League ends, he still goes out and hits balls. He’s constantly working on his swing.

“And that speaks volumes to his attention to his grades as well. Scott is a very good student. I don’t think he’ll have any problems tackling a collegiate academic load.”

(Jim Melaro, a Times Herald sports writer, can be reached at sports@oleantimesherald.com)

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