Todd Krise
New Castle News
NEW CASTLE —
Every time Ned Weaver moves, it’s there.
Teasing him. Reminding him.
“When I sit down and think about it, I get nervous,” the New Castle Country Club head golf professional said, “so I can’t imagine how I’ll be when the time comes.”
The it Weaver is talking about is the 2010 U.S. Senior Open to be held July 29 to Aug. 1 at Sahalee Country Club in Sammamish, Wash.
The 52-year-old qualified for the prestigious USGA event by firing a 3-under 69 at Grove City Country Club on June 25. Weaver beat 40 other golfers ages 50 and over in order to be the lone representative from that qualifying round.
Weaver, who kicked around the Nationwide Tour in his youth, said the U.S. Senior Open easily will be the biggest tournament he will ever play. His only other attempt to qualify came in 2008 at Fox Chapel Country Club in Pittsburgh, where he a shot a 77 and was 10 strokes behind the winner.
“You grow up watching guys like Tom Watson and Fred Couples,” he said. “It’s just going to be kind of neat going up there.”
Weaver is hoping a college reunion with PGA and Champions tour veterans John Cook and Joey Sindelar will help ease the process. The three competed against each other when Weaver was at Kent State University and Cook and Sindelar were at Ohio State.
“Hopefully, I’ll get to play a practice round with a couple of them,” said Weaver, who has spent the last six years working at New Castle Country Club and the previous 10 at Southpointe Golf Club.
Another thing Weaver has going for him will be his eldest son, Grant, who will caddy for him at the event. Ned’s wife, Michelle, and 4-year-old son, Luke, will not make the trip.
Grant, who will be a freshman at Neshannock High in the fall, just completed his first caddying job for his father at the Frank B. Fuhrer Jr. Invitational at the Pittsburgh Field Club on June 21-24. Ned Weaver placed ninth and earned $4,366.50.
“That’s going to be really cool,” Ned said of Grant coming with him. “I think the neatest thing about the whole week is that we’re going to share it together.”
Added Grant, “I just think it’s awesome. It’s really neat that he’s able to play with these really experienced people and that he’s able to play in this amazing event.”
The 14-year-old went on to say that he’s been reading his rule book in case any big situations come up.
“I’m thinking if I make a mistake, it’s going to be magnified and that I’m going to be fined,” he joked.
The two are planning on flying to Seattle on July 24. From there, they will have five days to prepare for the biggest tournament of their lives.
“I just hope I don’t get worn out before Thursday,” Ned Weaver said. “You want to soak it in. You want to be prepared, but I’m an old guy now. I can’t go and hit eight million golf balls.”
Grant believes his dad has the game in order to play on the weekend.
“Making the cut for him would probably be a real achievement,” he said, “and something he’s looked forward to all his life.”
