GROVE CITY — Cameron Peterson's golfing role model is not Tiger Woods.

It's not Vijah Singh and not even Ben Curtis.

It's AaronBaddeley.

Peterson's favorite PGA golfer is hardly a household name.

But in this area, Peterson is certainly becoming one.

The Grove City teenager is making his mark on the golf courses in Western Pennsylvania, finding his name atop most leaderboards and recently on a championship trophy that also bares the names of Phil Mickelson and John Daly.

"That's pretty cool," Peterson said. "And just think of the future golfers who will be on that trophy."

Peterson, who will be a senior at Grove City HighSchool in the fall, has set a torrid pace this summer.

He's won virtually every tournament he has entered, including a two week run that saw him claim the championship in the PGA Junior Series event in Durham, N.C., and the Hudson Junior Golf Invitational, etching his name on that famous trophy.

Peterson's approach to golf is new age.

He believes the fate of his round is largely determined long before he picks up a club and heads for the links.

He watches what he eats religiously. "Well, sometimes," he says. "I try to."

Peterson also works hard on his flexibility.

"Obviously, golf is like any sport," Peterson said. "You have to be in shape. Any playing advantage you can get is huge. If I can save one shot because I am in shape, one shot can win you a tournament. All the golf gurus say stretching is the key.

"Anyone can play golf," he added. "But not everyone can play great golf."

Peterson has been playing great golf for years now.

He advanced to the PIAA tournament this spring for Grove City HighSchool, but rain shortened the two-day tournament and Peterson had a less-than-satisfying finish.

No such problems for Peterson this summer.

A big part of his success, he said, has been the ever-evolving state of his mental game.

Peterson admitted the mental side of the sport has plagued him at times.

"It's still a work in progress," he said.

Another key to Peterson's success this summer has been his putting.

He said his feel for the greens has been top-notch.

"I think I have three-putted maybe four or five times in all the tournaments I have played," Peterson said. "I rarely miss a putt less than five feet."

His skill around the green has made up for an inconsistent driver.

Peterson hasn't been able to find the groove with the mother of all clubs. He is driving the ball between 280 and 300 yards, but missing far too many fairways.

That has sent him on a crusade during practice to iron out — and straighten out — his game off the tee.

Peterson practices between two and three hours a day. He doesn't stop until he is satisfied with his progress.

"I don't want to leave unhappy," he said.

The best may be yet to come for Peterson.

His win at the Hudson Junior Golf event qualified him for the Junior World Golf Championships, which will be held July 11-to-14 at Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego.

Peterson believes he can win the event.

"It's a very tough course," he said. "If I can shoot one-under in each round, I can win it with a 4-under."

The field is cut after three rounds.

"If I don't make the cut," Peterson said, "I can always go to the beach."

Peterson plans to be playing golf instead of sunbathing on the 14th.

He won't be satisfied with anything less.

"It's the same with everything," Peterson said. "If you want to be better, you have to do what it takes to be better. That may sound stupid, but it's the truth."