COMMENTARY: Walters gets an opportunity of a lifetime
Riverview Gardens grad caddies for PGA pro
Best of all the benefits was that Walters, 23, got most of his first four years of education paid for at the University of Missouri-Columbia. Another one of the fringe benefits came when the BMW Championships came to Bellerive Country Club a couple weeks ago.
That was when Walters, who hails from Hazelwood, got to caddie for PGA Tour Pro Marco Dawson on Monday, Sept. 1 when the Mastercard Pro-Am Tournament was held."It was just really exciting to see how well they play," said Walters of the professionals like Dawson, a 44-year-old who lives in Lakeland, Fla. "They have consistently good ball-striking ability. It's amazing how far they can hit the ball."
How far could Dawson hit the ball?
"When we were on No. 10, the marshall said the sandtrap was 330 yards away and wasn't in play," said Walters. "Well, his drive was in the middle of the fairway right across from the trap."
The Riverview Gardens graduate, who is in his fifth year at Mizzou and is finishing up on a degree in personal financial planning, said he also enjoyed talking with Dawson, who he said was very friendly.
"He talked about what it was like being on tour and what it's like for pro caddies," Walters said. "Overall it was an excellent opportunity."
Walters, the son of Riverview Gardens golf coach Wes Walters, Sr., said trying to be a professional caddie is something that would be nothing more than a backup plan for him, though.
"We'll see," he said. "If nothing from school works out maybe I'll try to get a spot on tour."
Walters said he is very thankful to the Evans Scholarship Program, which is sponsored by the Western Golf Association in the name of former PGA pro Chick Evans, and will try to support it as much as possible when he's done with school.
"I want to help keep the program going by giving back as much as possible," he said. "I feel I owe it to them."
> > >
Congratulations to Florissant's own Tom Fitzgerald, who will be inducted into the St. Louis Soccer Hall of Fame this Friday at Millenium Hotel. Others who will be going in include Bill Daues, Mark Demling, Doug Kadane, Ty Keough, Joe Kickham, Joe Leeker, Terry Michler, Bud Oldani, Bob Pollihan, Don Ries, Joe Right and John Roeslin.
The Msgr. Jimmy Johnson Award winner is Ray "Goose Gilliam, the Bob Burnes "Benchwarmer" Award is going to Joe Hake and the James Dunn Memorial High School Coach of the Year Award will be given to Tim Walters.
> > >
St. Norbert Church in Florissant will host Old Timer Soccer Games this Saturday beginning at 5:30 p.m.
The contests are being held to benefit Sharon Hunt (Stuhlman) and family. Hunt, a St. Norbert parishioner and a St. Sabina alum, suffered a severe stroke in July and is undergoing extensive rehabilitation. Proceeds from the event will go toward medical bills and her children's school tuition.
For more information contact Ryan Carron (814-1567).
> > >
Kudos to the Ritenour High varsity volleyball team which is off to one of its best starts - the Huskies are 4-1- in years.
