Ole Miss senior Cameron Tankersley has built one of the strongest resumes in collegiate golf through steady scoring, deep postseason runs, and consistent growth each season. The Tennessee native has qualified for the U.S. Open at Oakmont, won the Patriot All-America Invitational, earned repeated All-Region recognition, and helped lead Ole Miss to its first NCAA Championship match-play appearance. He has competed in every event of his collegiate career while developing into one of the most reliable players in the SEC and the Southeast region.
Career Highlights
Qualified for the 125th U S Open at Oakmont
Winner of the 2024 Patriot All America Invitational
Two time PING All Region Southeast selection
SEC All Freshman Team selection
Two time SEC Freshman of the Week
Number one ranked recruit in Tennessee in the class of 2022
Qualified for the Korn Ferry Tour Simmons Bank Open at age seventeen
Collegiate Results Snapshot
2025 to 2026 Senior Season
Competed in all five fall events
Scoring average of 70.33
Three top five finishes, three top ten finishes, and five top twenty finishes
Two rounds of 68 and a season low 54 hole total of 210 at six under
Won the Invitational at The Honors Course, his first collegiate victory
2024 to 2025 Junior Season
PING All Region Southeast selection
Played all twelve events with a 71.59 scoring average
Twenty three rounds of par or better and eighteen rounds in the sixties
Six top ten finishes and seven top twenty finishes
Helped Ole Miss reach NCAA Championship match play for the first time in program history
Team earned its first number one national ranking and first number one regional seed
Set career low 54 hole score of 202 at eight under at the Visit Knoxville Collegiate
Finished T11 at the NCAA Tallahassee Regional
Qualified for the 125th U S Open through the Dallas sectional
Won the Patriot All America Invitational with a 200 at ten under
2023 to 2024 Sophomore Season
Competed in all ten tournaments
Posted a 70.27 scoring average, second best on the team
Seven top twenty finishes and five top ten finishes
Season low round of 64 at the Visit Knoxville Collegiate
Finished third at the Mason Rudolph Championship
Recorded a career low 204 at six under at the NCAA Stanford Regional
Made 105 birdies and four eagles
2022 to 2023 Freshman Season
Played all twelve tournaments as a true freshman
SEC All Freshman Team selection
Opened his collegiate career with a T3 at the Badger Invitational
Shot a season low 63 in SEC Match Play
Finished stroke play at SEC Match Play at 203 at seven under
T10 at the Ka’anapali Classic
Recorded 119 birdies with a 71.74 scoring average
High School and Amateur Background
Number one ranked junior golfer in Tennessee in the class of 2022
Qualified for the Korn Ferry Simmons Bank Open at age seventeen
Runner up at the 2021 Tennessee State Open
Top five at the 2021 Tennessee State Amateur
Made the cut at the 2021 Western Amateur
Career Statistics
Career scoring average of 71.16 over 114 rounds
Career low round of 63 at seven under
Career low 54 hole score of 202 at eight under
Seven career top fives
Seventeen career top tens
Twenty five career top twenties
Best collegiate finish. First place at the 2025 Invitational at The Honors Course
Interview Highlights with CGN
Early Start and Development
Tankersley began playing golf at age two through his father, who introduced him to the game without pressure. He played basketball and soccer through middle school before deciding to focus on golf entering high school. Daily competition at his home course pushed him from an early age as he played against older players who competed for Tennessee and Ole Miss. He spent full days at the course throughout his childhood, playing with friends and learning through repetition and friendly matches.
Family Support
Tankersley credited his parents, Brian and Lisa, along with his siblings Michael Luke and Kimley Luke, for consistent support and sacrifice throughout his junior and collegiate career. He emphasized the role his family played in allowing him to practice, travel, and develop at every stage.
Recruiting Process and Choosing Ole Miss
His recruiting journey began during the COVID period, which added uncertainty to the process. Tankersley originally committed to Lipscomb but continued to play well and qualified for the Korn Ferry Simmons Bank Open at age seventeen. That performance broadened his opportunities and led him to decommit before beginning conversations with Ole Miss. A connection with head coach Chris Malloy and shared ties through Ole Miss alum Ben Wolut guided the final decision. He said the fit felt immediate once he spoke with Malloy.
Freshman Impact and Early Success
Tankersley played in every event as a freshman and earned SEC All Freshman honors. He posted 119 birdies, a scoring average of 71.74, and opened his career with a T3 at the Badger Invitational. He viewed the full schedule as a valuable introduction to college golf and noted that the experience built confidence for future seasons.
Progression Through Sophomore and Junior Seasons
After a challenging summer before his sophomore year, Tankersley began working closely with assistant coach Emerson Newsome on data based feedback, process focused routines, and improved decision making. He credited Newsome with helping him understand patterns in his game and the importance of shot process rather than emotion. The improvement carried into a strong sophomore campaign and a breakthrough junior season that included All Region honors, six top tens, a career low round, and a spot in the NCAA Championship match play field.
U S Open Experience
Tankersley qualified for the 125th U S Open through the Dallas sectional and called the experience both overwhelming and eye opening. He practiced with fellow college players and several PGA Tour pros, including Andrew Novak and Sungjae Im. He studied their preparation habits, noted how they balanced rest with focused practice, and brought those lessons back to Ole Miss.
Handling Adversity and Mental Approach
He described a calmer, more mature approach to handling mistakes. Tennis misses or poor shots are met with immediate reframing, often with phrases he hears from Newsome about trusting his hands and short game. Tankersley reinforced that giving full focus to each shot allows him to move past frustration and stay competitive through entire rounds.
Senior Year Outlook
After winning the Invitational at The Honors Course, he aims to maintain the same preparation and trust the process that has shaped his success. He focuses on doing his work at home, managing expectations, and avoiding results driven thinking as Ole Miss enters the spring season.
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