Tech’s Drew Weaver takes another crack at pros

By Chris Lang
Media General News Service
Published: July 3, 2008

BETHESDA, Md. — Drew Weaver didn’t have the determined look of a grinder on his face. A pile of Titleist Pro v1 range balls littered the ground near his feet, and almost sleepily, he took practice swings Wednesday morning. First a few short shots with a wedge, then a couple of long swings with a hybrid club. In between shots, the Virginia Tech senior took a step back for a quick look around.

Fans lined the fence behind the driving range at Congressional Country Club. To his left, Parker McLachlin took a few swings, then stopped to chat with Weaver for a minute or two. Farther down the range, Robert Allenby was getting his cuts in. There was no shame in soaking up the atmosphere.

No, teeing it up with the pros hasn’t gotten old yet for Weaver, who parlayed one phenomenal week in Great Britain last year into a season’s worth of goodwill.

After winning the British Amateur last summer, Weaver earned a trip to The Masters and played the Memorial on a sponsor’s exemption. The final stop on his summer tour is Congressional, where he’ll play in this week’s AT&T National, also on a sponsor’s exemption.

A trip to Augusta — where he nearly accidentally walked in on the annual champions dinner on his way back to the Crow’s Nest, where amateurs stay during Masters week — and invites to tournaments hosted by Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods, all in one year?

“It’s been very much a whirlwind,” Weaver said. “I really haven’t had much of a chance to catch my breath.”

Weaver’s year has been hectic but memorable. He came within two strokes of advancing to the weekend at the British Open last July, firing a two-round 148 — the same score former major champions Phil Mickelson and David Toms carded — to earn top amateur honors.

Weaver opened play at The Masters with a 76 but finished with a second-round 80 to miss the cut. He never found a groove at Jack’s tournament, shooting 79-80 to miss the cut by a healthy margin.

But to focus on scores — good or bad — would be missing the point, Weaver said.

“Every time you get a start out here, it’s a great honor,” he said. “Obviously, I want to play well, but no matter how I play, I can always take it as a learning experience and take a wealth of experience back to college golf and hopefully get back here in a year or so.”

If he does, he’ll be the next in a line of recent Hokie players who have earned their Tour cards. Johnson Wagner, who won the Shell Houston Open in April to earn his own trip to Augusta, is ranked 42nd in the PGA Tour money list. Brendon de Jonge, who played on the PGA Tour last year, is 23rd on the Nationwide Tour’s money list.

Both have shared stories with Weaver about what it’s like to earn your way onto professional golf’s biggest stage. Wagner spent four full years on the Nationwide Tour before earning his way onto the PGA Tour by finishing second on the Nationwide money list in 2006. De Jonge earned exempt PGA status through Q School in 2006 but didn’t play well enough last year to retain his card.

“One thing Johnson shared with me was that he wouldn’t trade playing on the Nationwide Tour for anything,” Weaver said. “It helped him learn how to make cuts and how to win. That’s what you need to do. A lot of guys will come out here their first year out of college don’t do so well because the adjustment is so big. It helps to go to the Nationwide Tour. It’s still great competition.”

Weaver, who is playing Congressional for the first time, will start on the 10th tee today at 1:52 p.m. in a group that includes American Kevin Streelman and Australian Brett Rumford. To make it to the weekend, he’ll have to play considerably better than he has in his previous two events. His best showing was a two-round 156 at The Masters. The cut line at the National last year was 144.

“I’m starting to swing it well, and I feel like my putting is better than it has been,” Weaver said. “I’m just trying to build confidence on very small things and build some positive momentum. I feel like everything is headed in the right direction.”

After this week, Weaver will shift focus back to his Tech golf career. His 72.56 scoring average last season was second on the team to honorable mention All-American Jurrian van der Vaart’s 71.83.

“It’s definitely a tough adjustment,” Weaver said. “College golf is fun, but it’s different. You’re playing for a team. There are a lot of different things you can get to thinking about on the golf course.

“The main thing is to try to keep things simple. That’s what I tried to do the first three years in college and it’ll be no different this year. I’m ready to finish on a good note, and move on to bigger and better things.”