Lake County Gazette

Tyler Anderson's golf resume has grown much longer this year.

The Carmel Catholic High senior's year has included five first-place finishes and his recent second-place finish in the Class 2A state tournament last month in Normal, the best-ever finish for an individual in the school's boys golf program. His performance keyed the Corsairs' fourth-place showing in the team standings.

Not bad for his first time playing in the state meet.

Tyler Anderson, left, and teammate Jack Herron | IHSA

“The experience was amazing, getting to play with our team and finish like we did,” Anderson told the Lake County Gazette.

What Anderson said he worked on between his junior and senior seasons was his mental game, as well as trying to become more consistent while hitting the ball farther. Like his high-school career, he finished strong at the state meet.

According to ihsa.org, Anderson was tied for eighth place and two strokes off the lead after the first round. However, he opened the final round with bogeys on the first two holes, then a double bogey on the sixth hole.

But he turned things around fast down the stretch. He notched three birdies and eight pars to one bogey the rest of the way, giving him a two-day score of 148 – one stroke back of state champion Luke Armbrust of St. Francis.

“I started off (4-over-par) through six on the second day, and remembered it's not over until the last putt drops,” he said. “I ended up (2-under) on the last 12, putting me in second, and that mentality will always stick with me down the road.”

Golf is certainly a sport Anderson has been immersed in from early on in his life. He said he started playing at the age of 5 after playing “numerous Tiger Woods video games” and wanting to do what his dad did. He also has an aunt, Hee Won Han, who won six LPGA titles and was LPGA Rookie of the Year in 2001, according to GolfChannel.com.

“I love the challenge, both mentally and physically, about this sport,” he said. “Golf never gives you the same two shots, and it will always be unpredictable.”

According to his page on ncsasports.org, his career at Carmel hit a high point early when he tied the school record for best nine-hole score (33) in 2014. Then, in his junior year, he won the regional title.

During the summer, he had three top-six finishes, including winning the Illinois Junior Golf Association Countryside Tournament. Early in his senior season, he won the Ivanhoe Classic and went on to finish second in the East Suburban Catholic Conference. Then came first-place showings in the sectional and regional tournaments, as well as a new school nine-hole record (30), among his many accomplishments.

As for the future, Anderson said he is reviewing several college opportunities.

“I hope to play golf in college, and to one day win tournaments in the PGA,” he said.