It started as just another golf tournament for Cameron Stewart. The Sedona Red Rock senior had been at this stage before in the Arizona Interscholastic Association Division III Golf Championships. His appearance in his junior season helped calm the nerves for this year’s tournament on May 9 and 10, and he was locked in. It didn’t even feel like the last time he’d step on a golf course as a high schooler.

“It actually hit me on the last hole,” Stewart said. “I was walking up the fairway and I was like, ‘wow, this is it.’”

Stewart birdied that 18th hole to finish the second and final round of the state championship at Tucson Catalina National Golf Course with a 76. He’d shot 79 the day before, giving him a final total of 155 — good for 14th of the 90 Division III golfers present. It was his first time playing the golf course, as the AIA didn’t permit practice rounds the day before state started.

“I wasn’t near as nervous [as the first time],” Stewart said. “After the rounds I was like, that went a lot smoother because the nerves weren’t there as much.”

Nerves are common for golfers. With all eyes on the tee box, over thinking is natural. What isn’t natural, is playing golf one handed like Stewart did early in the season.

A snowboarding accident fractured his right wrist just weeks before Sedona’s season began. Just as it was beginning to heal, Stewart re-injured his wrist. The injury didn’t stop him from picking up his clubs and from performing in regional matches.

“I played that whole time with pretty much my left hand because my right wrist was in so much pain,” he said. “It was hard for me to swing the club.”

Over the first month of the golf season in March, Stewart’s nine-hole average was in the mid 40’s. He finished the season at a 38.52 stroke nine-hole average, the best on the Sedona golf team.

Stewart’s high school golf career wrapped Tuesday, but he hopes he’s not done yet. He plans to play college golf, though his destination isn’t quite decided yet.

Working on up

Heartbreak accompanied Sedona’s team while Stewart saw success in state. The top 14 ranked Division III teams qualified for the state tournament in Tucson. Sedona finished at No. 17. Despite a 19-7 dual-meet record, the Scorpions couldn’t join Stewart, who qualified individually.

The regional tournament at Williams’ Elephant Rock showed the bright future of Sedona golf. The Scorpions finished second in-region with a combined 4-player score of 353. Williams won the region at 308.

Stewart made the All-Region 1st Team by placing fifth individually, shooting an 84 in 18 holes despite wildly windy conditions. Senior Dorian Stevens and junior Zane Raimonde shot 87 each to tie for ninth. Raimonde, the presumptive No. 1 golfer for Sedona next season, showed vast improvement throughout the year. Stewart, a longtime friend, watched him grow before his eyes.

“I’ve known Zane for almost my whole life and it’s cool to watch him get so much better at the game,” Stewart said.

To round out the five Sedona players at regionals, Conner Strube shot 95 and Oliver Paydar shot 104. Paydar, a freshman, is sure to be one of the faces of Sedona’s future. While the tough conditions at regionals surely hurt his game, Stewart knows the program is in good hands moving forward.

“He’s good now. He’s a lot better than I was as a freshman,” Stewart said. “I can already tell by how his swing looks and how dedicated he is, he’s going to be pretty good as a senior. He’s going to be pretty good next year too.”