BRADENTON — To say Jordan Miller works hard is an understatement.
Over the summer, Miller’s grandmother, Linda Deutsch, would drop him off at Bradenton Country Club on her way to work. He would stay there until she returned to pick him up, some days as long as 10 hours.
A few months later, that work in the summer heat is paying off.
The Bradenton Christian freshman golfer will compete in the Class 1A state boys golf tournament, which begins Tuesday in Dunnellon.
Miller qualified by shooting a 2-under 70 in last week’s Class 1A-Region 6 tournament. He found himself 3 over through 10 holes but shot 5 under over the last eight holes, including an eagle and a birdie on Nos. 17 and 18.
“For the way I was playing on the front nine,” said Miller, “that’s probably the best score I’ve ever done. I felt really good.”
“Jordan is the type of guy that can go out and put a bunch of birdies together,” BCS coach Joel Van Ryn said. “He can play on the (state) level and has the potential to go out and win it. He’s played in a lot of tournaments, and I know he’s not shaking in his boots.”
Miller has played the game since age 4, competing in many tournaments along the way. But it was a past disappointment that triggered his play in regionals. The bitter taste of missing state last year by a couple strokes helped fuel his ambition to qualify this season.
“Thinking about last year made me feel bad inside,” said Miller, 15, who captured the Manatee County championship last year as an eighth-grader.
“For now, I just want to make it for all my years of high school. That’s my goal now.”
He’s off to a good start.
Miller said his objective, while in high school, is to win the county championship again, the Donald Ross Invitational, the Bay Conference title and become a state champion.
Today, Miller and Van Ryn will shoot a practice round to get familiar with the course.
“I’m just going to take notes of where to put my ball, so it will make the course a whole lot easier,” Miller said, “rather than going out there and not seeing anything and hitting your ball into stuff that will get you into trouble.”
It’s business as usual for Miller.
“I’m excited to play in the state tournament, and hopefully I can bring back a state title.”
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