Minter makes SKCC field
- Updated: July 9, 2015
[corner-ad id=2]Player becomes late addition to Sunny King field after addition to his own family
By Al Muskewitz
East Alabama Sports Today
Austin Minter had resigned himself to the fact he’d have to let this year’s Sunny King Charity Classic go.
For weeks his friends had been asking who is playing partner was going to be, but with a baby on the way he sadly had to tell them he wasn’t playing this year. Eventually he had to make the same admission to tournament organizers.
Even when Raylan Van Minter entered the game of life at 1:39 Tuesday afternoon — three days before the start of the SKCC — proud papa was still hesitant to play even if there were spots available.
But wife Kelly gave her blessing and now Minter will join partner Allen Mangham on the box at Silver Lakes Friday morning at 8:42, happy to be playing but uncertain of the quality of his contributions.
“I’ve got the best wife in the world,” Minter said. “I probably asked her 20 times over the course of the last three days (if it was all right to play) and she said go play if you want to.
“I was feeling more guilty, then when she said it was OK, I called (Mangham) and said if you still want to play sign us up.”
Mom, dad and baby boy all came home from the hospital Thursday, less than 18 hours before Minter has to be on the box at the most distant venue in the tournament.
This will be his third straight year in the field. He finished tied for fourth in the Honda Civic (fifth) Flight with Nick Pope his first year. He was tied for third in the Toyota Avalon (third) Flight last year with Shane Chappell.
“I’m just going to try to keep my mind on golf for five or six hours a day for these next three days and hopefully I can help Allen out on a few holes each day,” Minter said.
Like all golfing dads, Minter can’t wait for the day he can take his son to course with him.
“I hope in four or five years I can stick a club in his hand,” he said. “I started playing when I was 26 and have been playing about four years. All the good players seem to start when they’re younger.”
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