DANIELS —
When it came time for Christian Brand to accept his third straight BNI Memorial Classic trophy, Classic director Dave Hunter joked that he “has never heard of this guy. He must have sat around all summer.”
Everyone present laughed.
Brand has done little sitting recently.
On Monday, he won this third straight BNI Memorial Classic, coming from six shots down to win the title by two shots over Tad Tomblin. It was reminiscent of Stuart Appleby’s comeback from seven shots down in last year’s inaugural PGA Greenbrier Classic, which is rather ironic, considering they both played in this year’s Greenbrier Classic and neither made the cut.
Brand has also played in the NCAA national tournament in May, following his senior year at Marshall, the U.S. national amateur, won the state amateur last month at The Greenbrier and then, using the exception given to the Amateur champion, the Greenbrier Classic last week.
“It’s been a lot of fun,” Brand said. “Especially playing in The Greenbrier Classic. I didn’t make the cut, but I learned a lot. Just to watch those guys and see how they act, how they do things. You try to take that and incorporate it into your game. It was a neat experience.”
The question is, how neat was it? Might Brand try to cast his lot into the pro ranks, as scuttlebutt has it?
“I don’t know,” Brand said. “I guess you could say I’m thinking about it. I’ve done some research on the subject. I want to be able to make an informed decision when that time comes. I talked to (state native and pro) David Bradshaw, picked his brain a little bit on the subject. I’ve got time. I’m still young (23).”
He knows the sacrifices that will have to be made. Eschewing potential job opportunities to roll the dice is one.
And moving away is another.
“You have to get sponsors,” Brand said. “And you have to get a place down South where you can play and practice all the time. You can go to Q-school. You can play in Monday qualifiers for Nationwide (Tour) and PGA (Tour) events or play on satellite tour.”
Those who played with Brand have little doubt he could make the transition.
“That kid is phenomenal,” Mike Powers said. “He hits the ball straight down the middle. He doesn’t make mistakes. He is a great putter. Absolutely, he has the game to do it.”
Derek Brooks, who shared a cart with Brand, said he got a lot out of playing with the defending West Virginia State Amateur champion.
“It was a good experience; it showed me a lot and let me know that I’m close,” Brooks said. “That’s the point I’m trying to get to, and I think I’m close. Playing with Christian helped me out a lot.”
Brand is definitely at the top of the leaderboard among state amateurs.
How long he stays there is anybody’s guess.
“Right now, I plan on defending the amateur title and then playing in the BNI again next year,” Brand said. “Like I said, I have plenty of time to think about the pro thing.”
Besides, he had a taste and is better for the experience.
— E-mail: demorrison@
register-herald.com
The BNI
Champ ponders future
- The BNI
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In memory of Jimmy Jones — 1988 champion to be honored at 32nd annual Beckley Newspapers Memorial Golf Classic
Linda “Penny” Jones knew how much the game of golf meant to her husband. So when an accident befell his set of clubs, she doesn’t mind telling you she panicked.
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BNI returns to The Brier Patch Golf Links
For it’s 33rd anniversary, the BNI Memorial Golf Classic will have a distinctly local flavor once again.
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Finally, some time to relax
Most of the 154 golfers in the three-day, 54-hole, three-course Beckley Newspapers Memorial Golf Classic described the tournament as “a grind.”
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BNI Scores
Final scores from the 32nd annual Beckley Newspapers Memorial Golf Classic:
Championship Flight -
Down to the wire — Miller beats Reece in playoff to capture BNI
Three courses and 54 holes — 55, in fact — weren’t enough to separate Bosten Miller and Brandon Reece and determine the champion of the 32nd annual Beckley Newspapers Memorial Golf Classic.
But on the second playoff hole — No. 2 at The Resort at Glade Springs’ Cobb Course — Miller, the leader after each of the first two rounds, tapped in for birdie and his first BNI championship. -
Almost 78, Hamrick is still going strong
Jim Hamrick has plenty of excuses for not playing at his best in this week’s Beckley Newspapers Memorial Golf Classic.
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BNI Scores
Here are scores after the second round of the 32nd annual Beckley Newspapers Memorial Golf Classic:
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Miller pads BNI lead
Marshall grad up by 4 going into final round
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CORRECTED: Final-Round Tee Times
Here are Monday’s tee times for the final round of the 32nd annual Beckley Newspapers Memorial Golf Classic. The round will take place on the Cobb Course at The Resort at Glade Springs:
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Home for vacation
It’s no secret that the Beckley Newspapers Memorial Golf Classic — still affectionately known as the BNI — is a focal point for many of its competitors.
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