Notes from the Future Masters

Special message: Daleville native and PGA Tour pro Brian Gay sent a message to the Future Masters from the U.S. Open by way of Ken Kennerly, the executive director of The Honda Classic. Kennerly has a son, Charlie, playing in the 11-12 age division this week. The note, written on a U.S. Open flag and being displayed next to the scorers table, concerns the 60th annual tourney and reads: To the Future Masters, congrats on 60th, Brian Gay.
Late arrival: Chase Burkhalter of Tallahassee, Fla., didn’t know he would be playing in the Future Masters until getting a call Saturday night from tournament coordinator Angelia Wade Turner. After a cancelation opened up a spot in the 13-14 age division, Burkhalter was the final name on a waiting list. Turner called the family and left a message at 9 p.m., and by 11:30 Saturday night Burkhalter was on his way to Dothan. He arrived in town at 1:30 a.m. Sunday and teed off at 7:34 a.m. Burkhalter shot 84 in his first round.

Successful return: Robby Shelton of Wilmer took right back up from where he left off after winning the 11-12 age division in a playoff last year. He shot 69 on Sunday to rank among the leaders in the 13-14 age division. A year ago, Shelton shot 69 on each of his final two rounds, before winning the title on the first playoff hole. “Winning last year gives me a lot of confidence,” Shelton said. “It’s not much pressure.”

A hot streak: Ryan Celano of Naples, Fla., shot 69 on Sunday in the 13-14 age division to continue what’s been hot play of late. “A couple of weeks ago I shot 69-65 at the Fort Lauderdale County Club to win by 10,” Celano said. So what’s been going well for Celano? “Pretty much everything,” the 13-year-old said.
Early exit: Chase Averitt of Hoover had an unfortunate early exit in the 13-14 age division after being disqualified due to signing an incorrect scorecard. It was ruled Averitt had mistakingly written down a 5 on a hole when in reality he shot a 6. Averitt’s final score was originally posted as 75.

Carts debut: Carts were made available to the 11-12 age group for the first time in tournament history as a precaution against the heat.
Not everyone used them. In fact, nearly half the field carried their own bags Sunday.
“It’s easier just to carry,” said Nick Cortez of Simpsonville, S.C. “You don’t have to worry about going up or down hills or it getting away from you. Besides, I’m used to it.”
Cortez opened with a 73.
On the other hand, Will Brueckner of Walnut Creek, Calif., who also shot a 73, liked having the back off his shoulders.
“It’s really hot,” Brueckner said. “And the humidity makes it seem even worse. Having 30 pounds off your back helps a little bit.”
Brueckner said he liked the idea of playing in the morning for the second round, although his 6:38 a.m. tee time is a challenge.
“That’s 4:30 California time,” he said with a smile.

Special day: Jackson Seawell of Tuscaloosa said he didn’t play well, but his father clearly didn’t mind.
“I couldn’t ask for a better Father’s Day present than to see my son play this great game,” University of Alabama golf coach Jay Seawell said.
The elder Seawell had a busy — and surprisingly successful — spring. The Crimson Tide, facing a “rebuilding year” with seven freshmen on the roster, went to the NCAA Championships at Inverness near Toledo, Ohio.
“We had freshmen that didn’t play like freshmen,” Seawell said. “(SEC Freshman of the Year and second-team All-American) Bud Cauley and Hunter Hamrick — who won the 13-14 age group here in 2003 — were two of our freshmen who had tremendous seasons.”
Jackson was not pulling a cart on Sunday.
“Dad’s too old school,” Jay Seawell said, shaking his head.

Putting lesson: Ingram Tynes of Birmingham had a sinking feeling when he looked down at a putt on the eighth green. He noticed his putter was bent.
“I didn’t throw it or anything, but it was slightly bent,” Tynes said. “I didn’t know if I could still use it or not and I wasn’t going to take a chance on it being illegal. I used another club to putt the rest of the day.”
He said he’d never practiced putting with another club. He started with his hybrid 4-iron, but couldn’t get comfortable. He settled on shutting the face of his 5-iron, with varying success.
“I couldn’t keep it from getting airborne,” said Tynes, competing in the 13-14 age group. “Putting backspin on putts wasn’t great.”
Still, he made a 20-footer for par on No. 15 and gutted out a 79.

Finishing strong: Two golfers in the same pairing recorded birdies on the 18th hole late in the day Sunday.
Thomas Walsh, whose 69 put him second in the 11-12s, drove into a fairway bunker, hit his approach to six feet and drained the putt.
William Walker said he mis-hit his drive and had 160 yards into the 18th green. His hit a “little 5-wood” inside of a foot for a tap-in birdie.