It was a somewhat forgettable front nine for Nathan Winn. The
incoming senior at San Benito High had just carded three birdies
and three bogeys for even par at the Shoreline Golf Links in
Mountain View, where the 17-year-old golfer was competing for just
one of two exemptions to the 2010 Callaway Golf Junior World Golf
Championships in San Diego.
HOLLISTER
It was a somewhat forgettable front nine for Nathan Winn.
The incoming senior at San Benito High had just carded three birdies and three bogeys for even par at the Shoreline Golf Links in Mountain View, where the 17-year-old golfer was competing for just one of two exemptions to the 2010 Callaway Golf Junior World Golf Championships in San Diego.
Winn had been competing for an exemption toward the exclusive junior tourney for the last five years — 10 tournaments total — and, with his age limit set to expire, was preparing for his final nine holes — his last chance.
A quick glance at the scoreboard, which provided a shot of confidence from his younger brother, Travis, may have changed everything, though.
“It’s actually a funny story,” Nathan recalled. “I happened to walk by the scoreboard and I noticed Travis medaled in his age division.
“When I found out he made junior worlds, I got in the zone and figured I had to make it, too.”
With a boost from his 13-year-old brother Travis Winn, who carded a 3-under 69 to claim first in the 12- and 13-year-old age division, Nathan Winn went 1-under on the back nine and finished with a 1-under 71 to earn the top spot in the 16- and 17-year-old age division in Mountain View — a Winn-Winn situation.
The two brothers will now travel south to the San Diego area next weekend to compete in the Junior World Golf Championships, a tournament that equals the shining achievement of both brothers’ already impressive golf resumes.
“This is probably as exclusive as it gets for junior golf,” said Nathan, who in May finished third overall at the Central Coast Section Regional Golf Championships. “People come from Hong Kong, Argentina, you name it.
“It’s as big as it gets.”
The qualify-only tournament includes six age divisions and welcomes more than 1,000 golfers from more than 40 different countries, and includes past winners like Ernie Els, Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Craig Stadler, Anthony Kim, David Toms, Notah Begay III, Nick Price, Corey Pavin and Lorena Ochoa.
The 2010 class of players — Nathan and Travis included — even hail from such countries as India, Thailand, New Zealand and South Africa, among many others.
“It’s kind of convenient for us,” Nathan said. “It’s only about a six-and-a-half-hour drive (to San Diego).”
While Nathan will get to play on the Torrey Pines Golf Course in nearby La Jolla, which was the site of the 2008 U.S. Open, Travis will tee off from the Riverwalk Golf Club in San Diego, and will play within the 13- and 14-year-old age division.
The incoming eighth-grader at Sacred Heart Parish School said he was confident he’d qualify to the Junior World Golf Championships, even if outside factors pointed to a different outcome.
With only two tournaments in Northern California offering exemptions, Travis fell short at the first when he recorded an 80 at the Spring Creek Country Club in Ripon, leaving the tournament in Mountain View as his last remaining chance to qualify for this year.
And prior to teeing off in Mountain View, the 13-year-old developed a mild case of golfer’s elbow and was forced to sit out during the allotted practice round, instead just focusing on chipping and putting.
“I’ve been really close since I was 9,” said Travis, who has been competing for an exemption for the last four years and eight tournaments. “I knew I probably had to shoot around par, and on the front nine I was 4-under.
“But I didn’t even play the course before.”
No matter. Travis still carded five birdies on the day to defeat some 30 other competitors for just two exemptions — the carded score of 80 in Ripon now a distant memory.
“I was totally blown away,” said Nathan, who admitted to providing little to no brotherly advice to Travis prior to the tournament.
“Different things work for different people,” he said. “You just have to find what works for yourself and stick with that.
“He definitely knows what he’s doing.”
Travis certainly provided an emotional lift to Nathan, though, albeit indirectly.
After completing the front nine of the Shoreline Golf Links and noticing the 69 his brother had just recorded, Nathan went back to his foursome to tell them the news. One opposing player said, “Now the pressure is on you.”
“I felt the pressure all day,” said Nathan, who earned the exemption over some 75 other competitors. “But it was more motivation to qualify with him. It made me realize that it is possible.”
On the back nine at the Shoreline Golf Links, Nathan birdied 10, 12 and the par-3 17, where he nearly made a hole-in-one.
“Usually, we see the same kids make it over and over again,” Nathan added. “But when he qualified, he made me realize that I could do it, too.”
