Crowd-pleaser: Begay impresses in kids clinic - Wednesday, July 19, 2006
| VERNON, N.Y. -- Notah Begay III immediately became a fan favorite at Atunyote Golf Club on Tuesday. Begay took time out of his preparation for the B.C. Open presented by Turning Stone Resort to give a 45-minute clinic for children. The 12-year professional began with the fundamentals such as the proper grip, stance and swing balance. He began with a 9-iron and worked his way up to the driver with the oohs and ahhs from the wide-eyed children growing as the distance increased. One group of children came from the Military Severely Injured Center, a Department of Defense stationed in Fort Drum. Also there were children and parents from the Liverpool Longbranch Elementary School's summer youth program. They donned orange T-shirts with the message "Shenanigans 15, Summer of 2006" on the front. Begay then showed some of the skill that has led him to four career PGA Tour victories. He hit trick shots, bending hooks and slices to the amazement of the crowd. He then displayed Mickelson-like flop-shot ability. Then he got the kids involved for a few shots before closing by showing his skills from the bunker. Begay took pictures with each group of children in the bunker before signing autographs. Begay's advice to the kids: "These players out here have worked thousands of hours, hitting thousands, maybe a million balls just to get to this point. For anything you want to do in life, you're going to have to work hard." The Albuquerque resident also said he's proud of his Native American heritage and the significance of having a Tour event at Atunyote. "It's fabulous," said Begay. "It's groundbreaking as far as the Tour having a presence here. I think the players are going to be pleased with the golf course and maybe (the PGA Tour) can work on making it more permanent." |
