About a mile north of the center of Lebanon, in the Ulen section of town, Cathedral senior Johnny Leaman started on the 10th green at the Ulen Country Club.
On a day when the temperature hovered in the 40’s and occasional wind made the fairways feel even cooler, Leaman found warmth in the front nine of the Kent Frandsen Invitational.
The Butler recruit started his 18-hole quest on the back nine and shot a 37 there before he caught fire with a 31 in his final nine holes.
He finished second in the individual race with a score of 68.
“Everyone gets flustered after bad holes, it’s what I’ve been working on a lot recently — just staying in it,” Leaman said. “It’s 18 holes, it’s not six holes and never to give up. Yeah, just staying patient and I kind of just try to be like Cam Young, if you see him on the PGA Tour, he’s just straight faced the whole time, and keep that mindset all day long.”
At times, Saturday’s chilly conditions and tough course might’ve caused anguish for some high school golfers, but Leaman stayed dialed in. He shot 1-over par in the back nine before he improved to 6-under par in the front nine.
That turnaround symbolized the maturity that he has built over his high school career.
“I started coaching him when he was a sophomore at Cathedral, and he finds a way,” said Cathedral coach Jim Grossi. “He grinds through and does not let the golf course beat him, so he always seems to find a way. That’s why he’s successful as he is and is going to be very successful in college as well.”
Leaman has entered the elite stratosphere of Indiana high school golf. He’s earned the opportunity to compete at the Division I level after his senior year. His talent is unquestionable, but his resilience has him built differently than most of his competition. Pair that growing quality with the fact that he’s a great teammate and you’ll get a golfer with an appetite for greatness.
“He’s a great teammate, his attitude is just really good,” said Cathedral senior Sam Kinnett. “That’s what makes him one of the top players in the state. He picks us up when we’re doing bad and he’s just really good around the course and with his teammates.
“He’s grown a lot obviously; maturity is a lot of it. He’s gotten farther off the tee. He’s always been accurate. That’s why this course fits him so well. He’s a very accurate golfer and now he’s a distance. Just watch out.”
Leaman is a two-time state qualifier. As a sophomore, he tied for 60th before he jumped to 19th as a junior. He became a sectional champion with a score of 71 before he clinched a regional crown with a 70 last season.
In a sport that tests your mindset as much as your swing, Leaman wants to keep leveling up in the high school scene.
Patience is his virtue. Leaman knows that there’s more work to be done before he can, potentially, reach the top of the state podium as an individual and with his team come mid-June.
It’s the cliché way of saying “trust the process”. One invite, one swing and one meet at a time. His performance at the Kent Frandsen invite was a sign that his patience is paying off.
“I’ve been playing good so far this season, so just keep continuing to do that, “Leaman said. “Just regroup every week with the team at practice. Get all the boys ready for the invites, and I think we can get a podium finish at state. I think I can finish up there as well.”
Marc Ray is a high school sports reporter at the IndyStar. He can be reached at marc.ray@indystar.com , and on X, formerly Twitter, at @themarcszn.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Butler golf recruit, Cathedral senior Johnny Leaman is finding patience
Reporting by Marc Ray, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
