Golf notes: Webb advances in skills contest
- Updated: July 27, 2014
Baylie Webb of White Plains is headed to the second round of the Drive, Chip & Putt competition after advancing Saturday in Chattanooga. (Photo courtesy Derek Webb)
White Plains girl two steps away from Augusta National
By Al Muskewitz
East Alabama Sports Today
Baylie Webb admitted she was “not very confident” when she went into Saturday’s qualifier for the Drive, Chip and Putt in Chattanooga.
But she overcame her initial nerves and made it through to the second round of the nationwide junior skills competition by finishing third in the girls 10-11 division. In doing so, she becomes the second Calhoun County junior girl to advance, joining her friend Isabel Rogers, who qualified last month in Georgia.
“I’m really excited,” the White Plains 10-year-old said. “It’s going to help my confidence.”
Webb, a fifth-grader at White Plains Middle School who has only been playing golf 2½ years, said she was “really scared” when the competition at the First Tee of Chattanooga began because “a lot of people were watching me.”
But she got over her initial butterflies in the chipping segment, and then made her points with her putting and driving. She scored 26 points on her three putts and 21 on her drives — the strongest element of her young game.
Webb said it made her feel “real good” to overcome her fears. “Even though you’re real scared you can face it,” she said.
She tuned up for the competition by winning her age division in the season’s final event on the Future Champions Junior Golf Tour at Cider Ridge.
Next up for her is Stage 2 in Smyrna, Tenn., Aug. 27, two steps away from the championship round at Augusta National Golf Club the Sunday before Masters Week. Rogers’ second stage qualifier is in Augusta.
“I don’t think I’ll be as nervous as I was today,” Webb said.
Really, the hard part is over — and that was getting there.
Initially she was scheduled to make her qualifying bid in Prattville on Sunday, but discovered those qualifiers advanced to Orlando. The family appealed to the PGA Dixie Section and father Derek said “we kind of gave up on it” until receiving an e-mail Tuesday telling them they were cleared for Chattanooga.
ACE IN THE CROWD: Most golfers would love to have just one hole-in-one. Ralph Carter has 15.
The three-time Calhoun County Senior champion scored his latest Saturday when he ace No. 8 at Cider Ridge Golf Club from 130 yards with an 8-iron.
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