Quick Hits
- Best round: 63 shot at The Golf Club at Fleming Island
- Longest drive: 360 yards
- Favorite Course: Olympia Fields Country Club in Chicago
- Favorite Club: Driver
For as long that Brandon Mancheno can remember, golf has been an integral part of his life; so much so that the Mandarin High School junior is widely considered as an up-and-comer within the world of golf.
When he was 4 years old, he picked up a club for the first time, and the game instantly took hold. To this day, aspects of his game continue to reflect that early influence.
“My dad took me out when I was really young,” Mancheno says. “He would face me right across from him, and that’s how I became left handed.”
Mancheno enters this season riding a wave of momentum after becoming a medalist at the 2015 U.S. Junior Amateur Championship held on the Pete Dye Course at Colleton River Plantation Club in Bluffton, S.C. In doing so, he became the first left-handed golfer to win that honor since 2004.
“Everyone in that field is really good, and they are there for a reason,” Mancheno says. “It was ridiculous to be there playing that course.”
However, the course proved early on to be no match for Mancheno as he sat atop the leaderboard following a 6-under at the end of the 36-hole event. By leading after stroke play, he secured the top seed entering the match play portion of the championship.
“Everyone guns for you when you have the number-one seed, and it definitely felt like that was happening,” Mancheno says.
Match play posed a unique experience for Mancheno, and he successfully advanced to the round of 32 before coming up short in the final hole of an extremely close match. The entire championship acted as a measuring stick, allowing a glimpse into the current state of his game.
“I didn’t go in thinking differently, and I just wanted to play my own game,” Mancheno says. “I learned that you have to worry about what they’re doing as well. I’ve put in a lot of hard work this summer, and it’s beginning to pay off.”
Competition is something that he has embraced over the years. Every event that passes continues to fuel his passion for the game.
“It was always fun to shoot low scores, and that feeling just keeps getting better as you get older,” Mancheno says. “Anyone can win on any certain day, and it’s just fun having to compete out there.”
Dale Claussen, the owner and director of instruction at The Golf Academy of North Florida, has taken on the responsibility of coaching Mancheno. Their partnership has been instrumental in heightening and bringing pure talent to the forefront.
As a result of the success, Mancheno has verbally committed to play golf at Auburn University, a choice that was made prior to his junior year of high school.
“I didn’t think that I was going to commit to a college this early, but I just loved everything about Auburn as soon as I walked on campus,” Mancheno said. “It’s nice to get it out of the way.”
He is fairly long off the tee, with an average drive around 295 yards, and prides himself on his aggressive style. Mancheno’s iron game is a consistent strength that helps to define him as the player that he has become.
With every year that passes, he has adapted to playing within a team environment and was a major cog during Mandarin’s run to the state playoffs last season. The Mustangs finished 15th as a team, while Mancheno led the way in a tie for ninth as an individual.
“When I came in as a freshman, it was a lot different from playing tournaments by myself,” Mancheno says. “As an individual, if you have a bad round, you’re kind of alone. Playing as a team, you’ve got to support the other guys, and hopefully they can back you up as well.”
He’s played in his share of pressure-packed tournaments throughout his young career, which include several Future Masters appearances and a win in his age group at the 2014 Tour Championship hosted by TPC Sawgrass.
Mancheno took advantage of his busy summer and is currently knocking on the door of the top 50 in the latest Golfweek junior rankings. As his potential begins to skyrocket, his future takes even more shape.
“I’m really happy with that ranking, but I feel that I can get even lower as I continue to play more golf,” Mancheno says.
