John “Corky” and Kelly Shumate find themselves in contention heading into today’s final round of the West Virginia Father-Child tournament at Glade Springs.

They’re three shots back of the co-leading teams of John Duty Sr. and his son, John Jr., and Bryan Beymer Sr. and his son, Bryan Jr., in the 100-team field.

The Shumates finished Saturday’s opening round on the Cobb Course with a 6-under par 66 in one of their favorite events.

“This is the best tournament in the state, in my book,” Kelly said. “To be able to go out and have a good time ... it’s a lot of fun.”

But they would have been just as happy with a 76. Their score didn’t really matter. The important thing was that they were together again on the golf course.

“A little over two years ago, when they first told us about Dad’s cancer, I never thought we’d be sitting here two years later playing in the Father-Child,” Kelly, 35, said. “I thank the Good Lord for watching out over him.

“Dad’s a fighter. He’s been through a lot. He’s not out of the woods yet, but so far, he’s beat everything.”

The elder Shumate, 61, said he also thought he had played in his last Father-Child.

“I thought those days were over with,” he said.

“But I’ve been on a new form of chemo and I’m feeling better,” he added. “I go in for a CAT scan this week to see if it’s helping.”

Kelly said he knew his father had been feeling better and thought he might be able to play in the Father-Child.

“So a couple of months ago I called and asked him, and he said he could.”

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The Shumates have a long involvement with golf.

“Corky” started playing while in high school in Mullens with childhood friends Dan and Mike D’Antoni and Bucky Davis.

“We played a few times,” he said. “Then Kelly and I started playing the same time when he was a freshman in high school. He was about 14. Once we started, we went full-bore.”

“Mom never saw much of us after that,” Kelly added, laughing.

Kelly went on to play collegiately at perennial NCAA Division II power Pfeiffer, then turned pro, playing on mini tours before becoming the pro at Brier Patch Golf Links in Beckley. He regained his amateur status three years ago and is now regarded as one of the top amateur golfers in the state. He finished third in last weekend’s BNI Memorial Tournament, then turned around a day later and qualified for the West Virginia Amateur.

“What probably helped Kelly the most (when he was learning the game) was playing with Mike Wikel, Kenny Perdue and Jimmy Rinehart (at Twin Falls),” his father said. “When you play against competition like that, it makes you a better player.”

“All three helped me while I was growing up,” Kelly said. “They took me under their wing and each one showed me different things. They were good, established golfers and family friends.

“Even though Dad didn’t necessarily teach me things like about the swing, still, as far as introducing me to the game, he was perfect. He bought me every club I wanted. He took me to events. He gave me every opportunity. He did everything he could to make me better.”

“I had the attitude that I’d much rather have Kelly playing golf than hanging out around town,” his father said. “Being a father, Kelly and his sister (Casey) were two good kids to raise.”

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When his father was diagnosed with cancer and began treatments, Kelly said, “my heart wasn’t in” the game.

“I almost felt guilty going out and playing. It just didn’t feel right. When your father or someone else in your family or one of your friends is hurting, it’s hard to go out and have a good time.”

Which is why being together again on the golf course this weekend is so important to both of them.

“The type of cancer I have can’t be cured,” the elder Shumate said. “But my doctors at Duke think they can keep it from spreading. If they can do that, I’ll be happy, as long as nothing else breaks down.”

“Dad’s been through the mill,” Kelly said. “In the early 1980s, they found a brain tumor. The medicine they gave him for that, they said it would hurt his kidneys. So in 1990, my sister gave him one of her kidneys. And he’s battled diabetes.

“But he never complains. He never wants anybody feeling sorry for him.

“He’s the toughest man I know.”