Hughes Threlkeld started the second round of the Club Car Championship Friday thinking about going low with a chance to make the cut in his first appearance in a professional golf tournament.
But the University of North Georgia senior had three bogeys in a row starting at the par-5 third hole at Deer Creek Golf Course, and his mindset changed as he stayed focused on finishing on a positive note with his younger brother Hamp serving as his caddie.
The Benedictine alum, who received a sponsor’s exemption to compete in the eighth annual event, kept his composure and played the rest of the round at one-over par to card a 76, after shooting even-par 72 on Thursday. His four-over par total was seven strokes off the cut line of 3-under.
“I definitely didn’t have my best stuff today and I got off to a bad start there with three bogeys in a row on the front,” said Threlkeld, 21. “I got a little sped up and out of my routine. But I’m proud of the way I hung in there and battled there on the back and I’m proud of myself for being out here. I still believe I can compete out here, but I wasn’t at my best today.”
Threlkeld had perhaps the biggest gallery in the entire field following him Friday with more than 30 supporters — led by his parents Paul and Ansley, and a strong contingent from the Benedictine golf team — following the Isle of Hope resident who is a member at The Landings Golf & Athletic Club. His brother Hamp, a standout junior golfer on the BC golf team, was by his side to experience the highs and lows of a professional golf tournament. It was an experience the entire Threlkeld clan will never forget.
Threlkeld came on strong in the final holes, knocking a wedge to four-feet for a birdie on the par-4 16th hole and drawing a strong reaction from the crowd in the grandstands surrounding the 18th green with an approach to five feet, although he just missed the putt and settled for par.
“It was a super special week, and awesome to have all these people cheering me on,” Hughes Threlkeld said. “And to have Hamp on the bag to make my professional debut at home was a pretty cool moment — it’s something that I’ll cherish forever.”
Hamp Threlkeld is a standout golfer on a Benedictine squad that is looking to win a Class 4A state team championship this season after finishing second last year. He’s hoping the high stakes atmosphere at the Club Car Championship will lead to more success on the course for Hughes and himself.
“It was a bit of a rough day today in terms of the golf, but it was an unreal experience and I had a blast as Hughes’ caddie,” Hamp Threlkeld said. “I think I learned a lot — my biggest takeaway is the importance of the process —thinking through each shot. It’s the little things that make a big difference. Now I’ll get back to golfing with our team and it’s all about winning a state championship.”
Hughes Threlkeld is looking to close out his college career on a high note with NCAA Division II power North Georgia, which finished second in the national tournament last year.
“We’ve got our last regular season event on Monday and Tuesday and then our conference tournament in about a week and a half to start our postseason,” Hughes Threlkeld said. “I’ll be tuning up with the team and getting ready to chase after a national championship.”
Dennis Knight covers sports for the Savannah Morning News. Contact him at Dknight@savannahnow.com. Twitter: @DennisKnightSMN
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