Cy Norman keeps on rolling with IHSA boys golf state championship
BENTON, Ill. (BVM) — Winning an IHSA state title is not Cy Norman’s first big accomplishment in the sport of golf. However, after being denied the chance to do so last season, this fall’s championship definitely meant a little extra.
Last year as a sophomore at Benton Consolidated High School, Norman posted a year most can only dream of. During the season, the golfer won every tournament he competed in. He set a school record with a nine-hole scoring average of 33.63, and shot a record 13 rounds of under-par golf.
He followed up what was an already impressive freshman season when he shot low scores of 28 and 62 in nine and 18-hole rounds, respectively. Norman credits his success in large part to the open arms of the upperclassmen on the team.
“We had a great group of guys on that team,” Norman said about his freshman season. “You can either accept a freshman or try to put him down, and those guys were nothing but great to me. They made it really easy to step in and play for them. I’m not playing for myself, I’m playing for them, and I knew they were doing the same for me.”
Graduating several seniors, the Benton golf team was part of a youth movement in 2020. While Norman led his team to regional and sectional titles in his sophomore season, the IHSA did not allow for a boys golf state tournament due to COVID-19.
“We did some good things last season,” Norman added. “There was still a little bit of hope at the end, but they just didn’t have it. We had serious momentum rolling into the state tournament, thinking we could show everybody that we could get the win. Unfortunately, we didn’t get that chance to show them.”
The lost opportunity set the stage for this season, and Norman took full advantage. Shooting an 8-under par 134 across the two days of this year’s state tournament, Norman brought home Benton’s first individual boys golf state title.
However, Norman is all about his team. Unfortunately, the Rangers came up just short, finishing second as a team at state. That’ll again add fuel to the fire as Benton tries to come out on top in Norman’s senior year next fall.
“Our guys have goals too and want to play college golf,” Norman said. “Everybody who steps into our program, that’s their goal. If you’re good enough to play with us, you’re good enough to play college golf. That’s the atmosphere in the program we’ve built over the years. Going into the postseason, we were very confident. We had a shot, and that’s all we can really ask for.
“We will be back next year ready to win. We’ve got one goal, and that’s to win a state championship.”
Norman will look to add a team state title onto his resume next fall. However, his individual golf career continues to impress round by round.
The Benton, Illinois native first picked up a club at age 3 and began playing competitively just a few years later. He was introduced to the sport by his dad, who has taught Norman the game throughout his life, and continues to coach him now at Benton.
Over the last few years, Norman has also worked with swing coach Todd Trimble. With all of his coaches, he continues to work the most on his short game, and aims to perfect his short game similar to how Tiger Woods did in his prime. Thanks to both his dad and Trimble, all facets of Norman’s game continue to improve.
“Without those two guys, I don’t want to know where I’d be right now,” Norman said. “Without those two, I wouldn’t have much. They’ve meant everything to me and have given me all the opportunity in the world. They set it all out there and I just had to go get it. I could never ask anything more of them, they’re always there for me no matter what and I know they’ve got my back. I’ve got a great team around me and I’m excited to move forward with them.”
By 9 years old, Norman began competing nationally, as his father signed him up for some of the most competitive tournaments in the country. Norman continues to challenge himself in the same way today, particularly through the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA).
“The AJGA is the highest stage in junior golf,” Norman said. “They do such a great job. Every event is so well run and it’s just amazing out there. They give us all the opportunity in the world to play against the best of the best with college coaches watching every week.”
Last summer, Norman earned his first AJGA win at the Junior All-Star event held in Columbia, Missouri. He also won his first Gold Cup — a tournament held locally at Benton Country Club — giving him plenty of confidence during a year to remember.
“To be able to go out there and put myself in position to win and get it done that week, it was good to turn around and win one,” Norman added. “That’s what we work for. We work to be in those positions and have a chance to win coming down the stretch on the final day of an event. Just to be able to say I won one of those is a great accomplishment, and I’m ready to go out and win some more.”
Although he didn’t win an AJGA event this past summer, Norman is determined to get back on top. Coming off a terrific fall campaign, he will continue to work and train throughout the winter, hoping to create more great memories next season.
Within the next year or so, Norman will also likely decide where he will go on to play college golf. He continues to receive plenty of interest, talking back and forth with coaches for the past several months.
Not only does the Benton junior continue to get looks through the AJGA, but he also has his own website to help promote his game and allow coaches, recruiters or just simply golf fans to check out his incredible talent.
“I’m very fortunate to have the so-called platform that I have on social media and the internet,” Norman mentioned. “It’s good to be able to show everybody how the team is doing and really what’s going on.”
Perhaps one of the coolest things that will catch your eye on Norman’s website is also what he notes as one of the coolest golf experiences of his life: getting to play with former President George W. Bush at a Wounded Warrior event.
“It was amazing,” Norman said. “I was lucky enough to represent at President Bush’s Wounded Warrior event. It was a great time, President Bush was an amazing guy.”
Whether you visit his website or are just a golf fan within the state of Illinois, many will also come across the fact that Norman already has five holes-in-one in his young golf career. And last year, he had a round like no other, as he hit two holes-in-one in the same round — an estimated 67 million to one odds occurrence.
“The holes-in-one are really cool,” Norman noted. “I think if you ask anyone that plays the game of golf, it’s very much a combination of skill and luck. The two, it was just kind of crazy at the moment and I was just in shock for a long time. When I made my first one, I was headed into the clubhouse, but one of my teammates caught me and convinced me to play the last four holes with him. Sure enough, I played one hole, went around to the next par three, and made it again.”
Over the past year, Norman has also competed in qualifiers for both the U.S. Amateur and U.S. Open. While he still has some work to put in to get to these tournaments, he relishes the future opportunity to play in USGA events.
“At this point in my career, as every other high-level player does, we put priority on those USGA events,” Norman said. “They speak for themselves, they’re the best of the best. I want to win one of those.”
It may not be long until Norman’s name is seen at the top of one of those USGA events. He will compete in college with hopes of competing for a national championship. After that, it will be time to pursue a pro golf career, something that has been on Norman’s mind for quite some time.
“We’re going to go play high-level college golf and get ready for the next level,” Norman said. “The goal is to do nothing less than win on the PGA Tour. We’re trying to make a living out there, win multiple times and hopefully just keep it going.”
