July 30, 2010
Evans father-son combo completes run (VIDEO)
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Click to view video above of interview with Barry and Will Evans.
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS - OK, so Will Evans was caught lying down on the job.
By the Golf Channel.
And, OK, it was shown nationwide.
In a humorous moment during Thursday's rain delay at the Greenbrier Classic, Evans, caddying for his father, was shown stretched out in the fairway as the golfers awaited the restart. He was busted by the network - and then busted on by his friends.
"A lot of people came up to me saying they saw me on TV lying on the ground,'' he said.
The 15-year-old Evans, however, couldn't have smiled wider. He had just finished helping his father, Barry, the club professional at Berry Hills, maneuver through a PGA event.
The elder Evans didn't make the cut but turned in a pair of respectable 71 scores for a 142 total, 2 over par. The club pro made five birdies and seven bogeys.
"It's the most fun I've ever had missing a cut,'' Barry Evans said. "It was awesome.
"I've played in a lot of [PGA] Tour events, but never in West Virginia. The Pete Dye [Nationwide Tour] event was nice, but the crowds were nothing like this. Unbelievable. I had a lot of people following me.''
The senior Evans made his fans proud. He hit 77.8 percent of greens in regulation, and his ball striking was notable.
"I hit it as good [Friday] as [Thursday],'' Evans said. "I hit the ball great. I missed a couple fairways, but I think I hit 16 greens [Thursday] and 16 [Friday]. If I putted like the guys I was playing with, I'm 7 under par. That's the game, though. You have to do it all.''
Evans, who has played in two PGA Championships, seven Tour events and two Nationwide events, lamented that he "missed four putts 3 feet or in.''
He grinned, however, shortly after when catching sight of his son beside him. Will also caddied for his father in the West Virginia Open.
"It was a lot of fun,'' said the George Washington High student. "I learned a lot. It was a lot different from the West Virginia Open. Bigger scale. A lot of fun.''
No, Will doesn't help Barry pick the clubs. ("I helped him read the greens,'' said the son, "but he picks the clubs for himself.'') Will Evans, however, is not a golf novice.
He studies the game. He has his favorite golfers, like Sergio Garcia. ("I didn't meet him this week, but I saw him a lot,'' Will said). He follows Boo Weekley, who was at 10 under after Friday's round. ("He's funny. I saw him [Friday] a lot.'')
He watches the Golf Channel.
And one day Will Evans hopes to be like his father, swiping the ground instead of lying on it.
"I play at my dad's club, Berry Hills, every day, all day,'' Will Evans said. "I'll try to play in this tournament one of these days.''
Reach Mitch Vingle at 304-348-4827, mitchvin...@wvgazette.com or follow him at http://twitter.com/MitchVingle.



