The American Junior Golf Association prides itself in developing Golf’s next generation. Every year, Justin Leonard and Deloitte have sponsored the tournament, the same event that Leonard first played in, more than 20-years ago.
“We get some great players through here, and it is fun,” says Pro Golfer and Tournament Sponsor Justin Leonard. “I'm beginning to feel my age, when I see friends of mine, their kids are coming a playing in this tournament, so that feels good and bad.”
So when the youngsters teed it up at Northwood Club last week, the names were impressive, Tway, O'Meara, Wadkins and Stewart. All are next generation golfers.
Tway, is Kevin Tway, the son of Bob Tway, winner of 8-PGA tournaments, including the PGA Championship in 1986, when he holed a bunker shot on the final hole to win.
“Its been a great year,” said Tway at the time. “Hopefully I can keep practicing, getting better, but for this to happen is just unbelievable.”
“He's been through every level,” says his son Kevin Tway. “My dad played junior golf, and now pro golf, so he tells me what I need to know to become a professional golfer.”
Kevin celebrated his 17th birthday by winning the 2005 US Junior Amateur. His dad's experience in golf means everything.
“He's my swing coach, he's played golf all his life so he knows what to expect, all the ups and downs, so he helps a lot,” says Kevin Tway.
Shaun O'Meara will be a Senior in high school this fall, His dad is Mark O'Meara, the winner of 16 PGA tournaments, including Major wins at the 1998 Masters and British Open.
When he won in 1998, Mark said “For me as a young person growing up, very good career, very nice career, I feel very fortunate. I've met a lot of great people in the game, so to win this tournament here, is very, very special.”
“He doesn't come to many of my junior tournaments, but when he does, he'll help me analyze my round after, help me practice a little bit,” says his son Shaun O’Meara. “Honestly, the up sides, outweigh the downsides. You see Shaun O'Meara, and you want to say, oh he's going to be good because his dad is a good golfer, but you know just because he's my dad, doesn't mean that I can golf that well. I'd love to play half as good or a fourth as he's played in his life.”
Travis Wadkins has graduated from high school, and will play college golf at Wake Forest this fall. His dad is Lanny Wadkins, who won 21-PGA tournaments, including the 1977 PGA Championship, the Byron Nelson in 1973, and the Colonial in 1988.
After the Colonial win, Wadkins said “I can't tell you the excitement of winning here this week, this is just fantastic.”
He son uses his dad’s knowledge to learn the game. “It is definitely an advantage, the knowledge he has of the game, he's been playing professionally for over 30-years now. I mean he has more knowledge than most people have of any aspect of this game. He has passed a lot of that knowledge down to me, and my little brother too, so, its been a real benefit.”
And then, there is Aaron Stewart, the son of the late Payne Stewart, winner of eleven PGA tour events, including the 1989 PGA Championship. He lost his life in a plane crash in 1999, only 4-months after winning his second US Open Championship.
“You know I stroked the ball well all day long,” said Stewart after winning the US Open in 1999. I hit a lot of great putts. I just said give yourself a chance. I went through the same routine on every putt.
His son Aaron knows people are watching. “Your in the spotlight more, if your playing well so its easier for the coaches and everyone to see you play well, but it can be a disadvantage because people kind of expect a bit more out of you, but, I guess you've got good genes, so I guess that helps too.”
It’s hard to go wrong with names like O'Mera, Tway, Wadkins and Stewart, famous names in the world of golf, but for these young men, its all about trying to establish their own identity.
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