Former Indian Creek golfer Braxton Christie follows through on a shot last spring for the Franklin College men’s team.
Submitted photo | Chad Williams
Being named a team captain is a distinction most athletes are fortunate to experience once.
Franklin College sophomore Braxton Christie, already a four-timer from his days with the Indian Creek boys golf team, seems poised to eventually add to that number.
As it stands, senior Carter Giggy takes the honor to the fairways when the Grizzlies open their fall season this weekend at the Transylvania Fall Invite. But make no mistake — Christie, 19, will continue to set a positive example.
To him, the willingness to lead — and the ability to do so — doesn’t always need to run parallel to a specific age.
“To me, in my mind, whatever class you’re in, it doesn’t matter,” said Christie, who also was captain of the Braves’ basketball squad as a senior. “Last year, I was a freshman, but why not play like a senior?
“It takes believing in yourself, and you just having to work as hard as you can.”
This formula served Christie splendidly during the 2022-23 golf seasons.
In May, he was named first team all-Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference with an 18-hole average score of 78.9. Christie finished his freshman season with five top-10 finishes, and there were three times he placed in the top five.
But as impressive as Christie’s history of being a team captain might be, consider he’s about to enter his sixth straight golf season as his team’s No. 1 player.
It’s part of a growth process that began as far back as Christie’s memory can reach.
“I’ve played golf really my entire life, but around the fifth grade is when I first thought I had a chance to be pretty good at it,” he said. “I started practicing more, and was putting up pretty good scores for my age.”
As a senior at Indian Creek, Christie carded a 75 at the Franklin Sectional played at The Legends. His 79 at the Providence Regional fell four shots short of making the state meet.
Christie’s good scores also carry over into the classroom. He accumulated a 3.45 grade-point average last year while carrying a double major in business management and marketing.
First-year Grizzlies men’s golf coach Kyle Dell inherits a roster of eight, which also includes former Whiteland standout Zach Ricketts. Five are seniors, including Ricketts — though Dell, who took over as FC’s interim coach last spring, knows having Christie on board is like having a sixth.
“Braxton is a very mature kid. He’s the first one at practice, and usually the last one to leave,” said Dell, a former Grizzlies golfer (2007-11) who is now also the head golf professional at Timbergate Golf Course in Edinburgh. “You watch him during practice to see the way things should be done.
“That’s why he sees those results — because he takes practice so seriously.”
And because Christie sees the program’s potential.
Last spring, Franklin College finished third at the annual HCAC meet. Christie and fellow freshman Jacob Paine were named all-conference after placing ninth and seventh, respectively, among individuals.
Christie is back. Paine, too, along with Ricketts and others.
“I really feel our team can get to the national championships,” Christie said. “This is a very, very good team. I want to help build the program. Make Franklin College a golf school. We’re getting there, and (Dell) is doing a phenomenal job.
“My game is really solid right now, but the thing I’m happiest about is my mental attitude. It’s maturing, really. But once you find that spot, it’s go time.”
It’s Christie. It’s golf. Go time never takes a holiday.
