Divots: Redmond westward bound to NJCAA's
Now on the tee, representing Hagerstown Community College, please welcome Nathan Redmond.
Redmond, a Smithsburg graduate, is set to compete in the National Junior College Athletic Association Division II national championship. The four-day, 72-hole excursion begins Tuesday as players from across the country will converge for the first time on the Longbow Country Club in Mesa, Ariz.
The weather is certain to be much better than the Region XX tournament, held at Swan Point Country Club on May 5-6, amidst two days of rain and wind.
The conditions were tough, but Redmond was one of two who qualified individually, having shot rounds of 88 and 83.
"The 88, it was really windy the first day, and the second day was rainy but I had a good front nine and I knew I could have a good chance," said Redmond. "We had to wait for the remaining scores, and all the chatter is going on what the numbers would be. I felt good about my round and was excited to make it."
HCC golf coach Bill Hoffman, also a teaching professional at Beaver Creek, was amazed at Redmond's performance.
"He has been consistent on every course we played this year," said Hoffman. "At the Region XX, his first round was in horrible wind and the second round was in two inches of rain. Even I wouldn't have wanted to play."
Not bad for a young man who first put a golf club in his hand at the age of 7. In reality, however, it was soccer that consumed the majority of his athletic time.
He was an all-Washington County performer in soccer and never imagined he would have any kind of success in golf, then or now, at HCC.
"I didn't play golf at all in high school until I decided to take it up again as a junior," said Redmond. "I got to play with Bret (Baile) and Jordan (Tapley) and those guys when I was a senior. It was a way to have a good time."
Redmond just missed an individual spot by one stroke to qualify for the 2014 state tournament. He had shot an 82, which he thought wold be good enough, but when the final cards were turned it, two players had finished with 81s to knock out Redmond.
At HCC, soccer once again became his primary sport, and he did not play golf as a freshman.
"Coach (Hoffman) got me back into it and our other player (Rocky Moats) from the Tri-State Junior days did also,"said Redmond.
The return was worthwhile when Redmond punched his ticket to Mesa.
"We have two practice rounds out there, and I've looked at the course a lot on video," said Redmond. "My goal is to shoot around 80. It's a wide open course and not many trees. I feel confident."
Fun Williamsport outing
As always, there is plenty of golf and fun when the Kiwanis Club conducts its annual outing.
On June 22 at Beaver Creek Country Club, the Jim Snead Golf Tournament will be the attraction, beginning at 1 p.m. with a shotgun start, played in a two-person modified Chapman system.
Kiwanis is celebrating the life of Jim Snead, a longtime member and treasurer of the club. Proceeds from the outing will benefit youth programs of Washington County. There also will be two themes — the Baltimore Ravens and a sudsy beverage or two, each a Snead favorite.
With alternate shot selection, each hole will have one score among the two players. There will be a dinner at 5:30 p.m. and an array of prizes in each of the four flights. The fee structure is varied, so it is best to contact John Roney at 240-818-8522 or jroney@orrstown.com for information.
Tim Koelble is a staff writer for The Herald-Mail. He can be reached at tkoelble@herald-mail.com.