Published: July 14, 2008 10:18 pm         

The first family of golf earns a title

Looks like it’s time for a little redecorating at the home of Alan and Amy Wharton.

As her husband stood poised to finally break through and win the BNI Memorial Golf Tournament, Amy Wharton stared at the trophy Alan was about to bring home.

“It’s going to go smack dab in the middle of our family room, on a pedestal,” she said. “Or we’re going to have to have an addition to the house.”

Wharton shed the moniker of best player to not have a BNI title by firing a 1-over 73 on the pristine Cobb Course at The Resort at Glade Springs Monday. That was good enough for a 7-shot victory over Don Jones.

Wharton had come close on several occasions but always had a stroke of bad luck at the wrong time. Not this year.

“It still hasn’t sunk in,” Wharton, a Summersville native who now lives in Columbus, Ohio, said some 40 minutes after claiming the title. “This is for me, but it’s also for a lot of other people. The support I’ve received from the local community has been great. And I’m not even a local guy, not any more. The other players have been great. And my family has always supported.”

Make that the first family of golf. At least of the BNI Memorial Golf Tournament.

His mother, Barbara, has been a fixture at the final day of the BNI.

“I’m so excited,” she said as her son walked off the No. 18 green with his daughter in his arms. “I knew that (his losing streak) couldn’t go on forever. We knew this was going to be his year. I’m so proud of him.”

His brother Gary and Amy both fielded text messages from friends back in Columbus as the day progressed.

“It’s big news back in Columbus; they know how important this is to him,” Gary said. “Like he said, after 22 years, you start to wonder if you’re going to do it. He was on his game, and after playing with him the first two days of the tournament, I knew he was going to do it.”

“The BNI is more than a golf tournament,” his brother Robert said. “It’s an event. And for the Whartons, it’s more important to win an event than a golf tournament.”

Even sister Janice was on hand as her brother crossed the finish line to claim his first title.

“I’m the nonmale, nongolf-playing member of the golfing family,” she said. “But I am proud of him. After being the bridesmaid for some many years, he is finally the bride.”

Even his competitors were happy for him.

“I’m happy to death for him,” said Kelly Shumate, a former golf pro at Brier Patch Golf Links who last year had his amateur status reinstated. “I played with him last year and I can tell you, people don’t realize what a great player he is. Every year he is in the last couple of groups. That’s consistency.”

“I am happy for him,” said four-time champion Greg McGraw. “I remember my last BNI title, Alan finished second. And it could have gone either way. He just didn’t get the breaks. It’s nice to see him get over that hump.”

“He certainly deserves it,” said veteran BNI golfer Joel Davis. “He knocked on the door so many times; he was always in contention. I’m elated for him. I always figured it was just a matter of time anyway.”

Now, it’s time for someone else to take over the title of “best player to not have a BNI title.”

“A lot of us would like to see Chris (Daniels) win one,” McGraw said.

“I’ll happily give up the title,” Wharton said. “We can all start pulling for Chris to win one.”

Not that Wharton is done just yet.

“I want to win a bunch more,” he said. “I want to win six. I want to tie Mike (Mays’ record six BNI titles).”

The first one is out of the way.

— E-mail:

demorrison@register-herald.com