Colquitt County High senior golfer Tanner Brown signs with Central Alabama Community College with parents Bert and Tonya Brown. Standing are Packer director of golf Brett Hightower, left, and Colquitt County High boys coach Lee Wright.

MOULTRIE – Despite the sogginess of the day Wednesday, there’s no doubt Tanner Brown preferred being out on a golf course working on driving, chipping and putting.

But it was a time for celebration, and Brown took a few moments with family and teammates to sign with the Central Alabama Community College golf program. He wants to take with him not one, but two state championship honors from his days with the Colquitt County High Packer team.

As mentioned at the start, though, for Brown it’s all about the work ethic, and it’s something of which Packer coach Lee Wright can’t say enough.

“He’s been looking forward to going to college and play golf for I don’t know how many years now,” said Wright. “He’s been really determined since he was a small kid to do that. I’ve known Tanner since he was a young one when they first started bringing him (to the golf course). I could tell then he really loved to play golf. One thing I can say about Tanner is he probably has the hardest work ethic out of any kid I’ve seen. I could go out to the golf course at any time of day and probably see Tanner’s truck there. That’s what made him what he is.”

The bucket of golf balls Tanner will hit on the range is “huge.” His time on the putting green: “two to three hours.” It brought him the low medalist for Class 7A at the 2018 GHSA tournament when it was held at Moultrie’s Sunset Country Club. He turned in a round of 70 to win by one stroke (rain called off the second round), and the Colquitt County team came one shot short of winning as well (second to Mill Creek).

It’s all that work that separates a winner from one who just plays.

“You look at guys who play at the big schools or even the PGA Tour. They spend hours and hours at their craft,” said Wright. “That’s what (golf) is, a craft. He only has three classes at the high school, and he usually goes straight to the golf course and he’s there until it gets dark. Whether it’s playing by himself, developing his wedges … he’s been struggling a little bit with his putter lately. He wants to work on it to get better. He wants to make sure he’s ready to go to the next level, and I think he will be.”

Mixed in with all the work is some golf talent.

“He’s got a ton of talent,” said Wright. “I think he’s not done. I don’t think he’s peaked with his talent. He can go further than he has now. He has a desire to go to a big four-year school and play some D-1 golf.”

Central Alabama’s golf program is at the NJCAA level, and Brown confirmed that it’s his plan to advance to the four-year level from there.

“I feel great about it,” said Brown. “I chose junior college to play for two more years and try to transfer to a D-1 college … maybe pursue a pro career after that.

“I think a lot of the good golfers, good pro golfers who have been on tour always said the harder you practice, the luckier you get. The more you put into it, the more you’re going to get out of it.”

Brown said that state low medalist as a high school sophomore is one of his favorite accomplishments. What made it really special, however, was doing it in the first year for Wright as his Packer coach.

“He was a big influence and help for me when I was growing up,” said Brown, the son of Bert and Tonya Brown. “I’d like to do it again this year and finish off my senior season (as state champion).”

In college, Brown plans to study business management. He said his father works in real estate, and that’s something he’d like to return home and do as well.