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Mechanicsburg golf phenom shares journey to Penn State
Courtesy: Kerry Convey Sexton

Mechanicsburg golf phenom shares journey to Penn State

MECHANICSBURG, Pa. — Local golf phenom Brady Davidson began playing golf at age 8, and he began playing competitively in high school. He has also played for CV High School and Carlisle Country Club. In addition to golf, Brady also played basketball through 10th grade, soccer through 8th grade, and swimming through 8th grade.

Courtesy: Kerry Convey Sexton

About Brady

William Davidson, Brady’s grandfather, was the first All-American Golfer at Penn State University.  He began taking Brady out on the course when he was very young, but Brady never developed a true passion for golf until much later.   Clay Davidson, Brady’s father, also played golf at Penn State.

Clay started taking Brady out on the course in middle school.  Brady started really enjoying the game and started scoring a little, so he decided to try out for the high school golf team his freshman year.  Brady barely made the team, shooting a dismal 93.  Brady then dedicated himself to the sport, practiced every opportunity he got, and committed himself to becoming the best he could be. By Brady’s senior year, he had improved his game by an unbelievable 30 strokes, shooting a personal best of 63.  Brady says, “I wouldn’t be where I am today without the guidance and support of my grandfather and dad.”

 

West Shore Hall of Fame Scholar Athlete of 2022 Essay Highlights

Recently, Brady submitted an essay for the West Shore Hall of Fame Athlete competition. In this essay, Davidson shares, “My path to becoming a 2-year captain of Cumberland Valley’s Golf Team and PennLive’s 2021 Golfer of the Year wasn’t easy, that’s for sure. In fact, I barely even made the cut to join the team my freshman year. You see, I was actually the next-to-last guy chosen. Thanks in large part to my dad and then coach Eric Novak, I worked hard and found my game slowly improving throughout the season.”

Unquestionably, golf is a game of integrity and sportsmanship. Never will I ever question that after my experience my freshman year on the CV team. As soon as top teammate Grady learned that I needed just 1 more match to qualify for the postseason, he contacted Coach Novak and asked if he could surrender his spot to me so that I could have a chance to qualify. He sacrificed his one last high school match for me – the kid who barely even made the team. The sportsmanship that Grady exhibited is something I will never forget. Grady’s selfless act pushed me to train harder and demand more from myself. It set me on the path that eventually led to a PIAA Team Runner Up in 2020, and an Individual District III Championship in 2021. I went on to qualify for the postseason that year thanks to Grady, realizing for the first time what true sportsmanship meant.

“I can, however, say that a little selflessness can go a long way in building a teammate’s confidence and cultivating an incredible team culture.”

One of Brady’s proudest accomplishments is his success helping a longtime family friend.

In March of 2021, through a phone call, Brady learned that Jesse King, one of his older brother’s very best friends, had just gone into cardiac arrest during a routine endoscopy in Camp Hill. And, if that wasn’t bad enough, he also had a huge tumor in his chest which turned out to be cancer. Jesse was taken via Life Lion to Hershey Medical Center where he stayed for an eternity on life support.  He became a Four Diamond’s kid almost immediately which has been a Godsend for his family. Brady wondered how he, just a kid, could help this longtime family friend. The answer to that question finally arrived with Cumberland Valley’s Mini-THON in March of this year.  One of the highlights of THON is the Man Pageant.  Brady and his friends performed a dance routine, a talent competition, answered interview questions, and filmed a 20-minute video skit. The next component was fundraising. It didn’t take long for Brady to come up with an extensive fundraising idea- he had an enormous luminary light up the neighborhood for Jesse campaign! In the end, Brady won Man Pageant this year, and he raised $21,084.32.  For Jesse.  For his brother’s best friend.  They lit those luminaries 1 year and 1 day after Jesse’s journey began.  Almost every single house in his neighborhood was lit, and it was a sight to behold.  The campaign was so successful that they even expanded into the CV Community and their goal to “Light up the neighborhood” turned into a larger goal to “Light up the Valley.”

Career Highlights and Future Goals

Davidson’s career highlights include being named Penn Live Golfer of the Year 2021; West Shore Hall of Fame Scholar Athlete Winner 2022; District 3 Individual Champion 2021; Ed Tabor Memorial Four Ball Champion 2021; PIAA Team State Runner Up 2019; District 3 Team Champion 2019, 2-year captain of the CV Golf Team.

This fall, Brady Davidson hopes to play golf at Penn State University, by either walking on to the golf team, or playing on a club team. He is also interested in studying business at Penn State, and then attending law school.

One of Brady’s favorites sayings about golf is, “Never give up.  Golf is a marathon, not a sprint. “

Brady enjoys the thrill and pressure of the first tee shot after the starter announces his name.  Nothing beats that feeling of competition.

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