By Lee Davis
Ben Fuller never met Bradley Johnson, but he completely understands the shining legacy left by the late Spain Park golf star.
Johnson was one of Alabama golf’s brightest young stars when he was killed in an automobile accident March 25, 2006.
His legacy is about far more than golf. People of all ages and walks of life – golfers and non-golfers alike – still tell stories of how Bradley influenced their lives in a positive way. Johnson’s memory is honored every year at the Bradley Johnson Memorial Tournament, which provides financial resources for underprivileged golfers to participate in tournaments and college scholarships for deserving young men and women.
The 10th Annual Tournament – commonly known as The Bradley – was held last week at Greystone Legacy Course and produced another outstanding champion.
Mountain Brook’s Fuller fired rounds of 74-74 to earn the low medalist title by one stroke over St. Paul’s Will McFadden. St. Paul’s won the team competition with a total of 609 to edge out runner-up Spain Park’s 614 score. The Spartans finished third at 619.
Fuller, whose victory came in his third appearance at The Bradley as a member of the Mountain Brook team, battled tough weather conditions both days of the tournament.
“The conditions got very windy and there was a lot of rain so it was important to strike the ball well,” Fuller said. “This is my favorite high school event during the regular season and the Johnsons (Bradley’s family) put on an incredible tournament every year. It’s an honor just to compete in The Bradley, let alone win it.”
Landing in the winner’s circle is something that Fuller and his Spartan teammates have been doing a lot lately. As defending state 7A champs, Mountain Brook already has won three team tournament titles in 2016.
Fuller attributed a strong bond among the players – both on and off the course – as a big reason for their continuing success.
“Our team has the best chemistry you could possibly have in a group of guys,” he said. “Our hard work and closeness has been critical to our quality of play. We haven’t settled and have worked toward our own personal goals rather than being content with anything we’ve achieved previously. Making goals for ourselves and the team as a whole has taken a lot of pressure off of us and the expectations that people have for us. Certainly the pressure to repeat (as state champs) is there, but we have learned to block it out.”
Other top contributors for the Spartans this season are Harlan Winn, Jonathan Eyster, Matthew Parker and William Wann.
With state qualifying just around the corner, Fuller is confident in his ball striking, but he is concerned about his efforts on the greens. His best single round of the year was the two-under par 70 he shot at the Ol’ Colony Golf Complex in Tuscaloosa.
“My putting was still not very good, but from a ball striking standpoint, it was the best I’ve ever had in a round of golf,” he recalled. “I hit 17 greens and had all makeable birdie putts. Looking back, it may be good that they weren’t dropping. Maybe that means that they are due to go in at some point in the future. I just have to keep working for that to happen.”
Although only a junior, Fuller already has committed to the University of Alabama. That doesn’t mean he plans to coast through the rest of his high school career. Instead, Fuller has raised the bar even higher for himself and his teammates.
“The obvious goal is another state championship,” he explained. “But as a team we want to have one of the most successful seasons that any high school golf team has had. As for the rest of my career at Mountain Brook, three straight state titles would be nice, but I’m still focused on taking it one step at a time.”
Fuller, who claims Mountain Brook Club and Shoal Creek as his home courses, started playing golf almost as soon as he stepped out of his crib. His father, Alan, is a former college golfer.
“My dad played at Georgia Tech, so I have some serious golf genes in me,” Fuller said, laughing. “He has been an incredible mentor to me and is for sure the main reason I’ve gotten to where I am today. The love and support of my family is something I’ll always be thankful for and without them I don’t know where I’d be. They are the most important thing in my golf game and life in general.”
Much like Bradley Johnson, Fuller is also grateful to a higher power.
“God has played a huge role in my life by making me realize golf is nothing more than a game,” he said. “That outlook has taken a lot of the pressure off me and my performance.”
Fuller also has an acute sense of golf tradition and history. He said the trophy ceremony following the conclusion of The Bradley gave him a special feeling.
“It was really cool being able to sign my name on the winner’s flag with guys like Bobby Wyatt (former Alabama star and now on the PGA tour) and Robby Shelton (current Crimson Tide golfer) who have accomplished so much in the past,” Fuller said.
Bradley Johnson would be proud that Ben Fuller’s name is added to that exclusive list.
