James River junior Mason Gilliland recently got to play on one of the nation’s most storied golf courses thanks to the local First Tee organization. Mason participated in the PURE Insurance Championships on the Monterey Peninsula in California, where he played the Pebble Beach course and two other courses while mingling with some of the top golfers in the nation.
Mason has been a member of the Roanoke Valley First Tee organization for the past four years and his First Tee coach, Bill Radar, suggested he apply to participate in the California event. The PURE Insurance Championship provides First Tee participants a national stage on which to showcase the skills and values they’ve learned at their chapter. Throughout the week, teens can network with peers, PGA tour champion players and leaders from the business world who are competing in the amateur field, gaining exposure to the opportunities golf can provide both on and off the course.
Gilliland decided to give it a try but realized golfers from across the nation would apply to play in this event. He had to have a letter of recommendation and James River golf coach Donna Cox was happy to oblige.
“It’s a real honor to be selected to participate,” said Cox. “There was a lengthy application process. He had to be nominated from First Tee and then had to have recommendation letters. I don’t know the number of applicants, but only 80 golfers from across the nation were selected.”
Mason was thrilled to find out he had been selected to attend the event, which was held Sept. 16-21. He was joined on the trip by his parents, Jay and Heather Gilliland, his sister and her boyfriend, and his personal coach, Scott Griffin, and his wife. The group caught a 4 a.m. flight and it was the first time Mason had been on a plane.
“I was a little nervous at first but I had a window seat,” he said. “It was still dark, so it was really cool to see Roanoke all lit up from the air.”
The group flew to Charlotte, then to Phoenix, and then to Monterey where they stayed in an Air B&B just a 15-minute drive to the four courses. Mason was teamed up with professional golfer Jay Haas for the tournament in a foursome with two amateurs. Jay and Mason’s scores counted in one tournament with the other young golfers and their pros. Haas was also playing in a pro tourney and the two amateurs’ scores counted in another.
File photos
Friday’s round was at Pebble Beach. Gilliland and Haas played a “best ball” format and Mason admits he was a little nervous at first.
“I was super nervous but the adrenalin was definitely flowing,” he said. “Jay said he would go for pars and for me to go for birdies, so that’s what I did. I went for it. I made a ton of birdies but also had some bogies.”
Mason shot 79 on the par 72 course. It was nothing like he’d ever played before.
“It was very challenging,” he said. “You had to get used to the elevation and it was a different look. Holes four through 10 were all along the ocean. If you’d look to your right it was right there.”
Jay’s second round was at the Spyglass course and he had a good day, shooting a one-over-par 73.
“I felt more comfortable at Spyglass,” he said. “It was more like the courses I play.”
Mason and Jay finished their two rounds at three under but missed the cut to play on Sunday.
“You had to be four or five under to play on the final day,” he said. “But I got to walk around with Ernie Els, and that was fun. Everyone was super nice and very friendly.”
There are four courses on the Peninsula and Mason also got to play on the Poppy Hills course. He won a closest-to-the-hole competition and earned $2,000 for his First Tee organization.
It was a great experience for Mason, who grew up playing golf. His dad played at Lord Botetourt and Mason had a club in his hands at an early age.
“My dad got me plastic clubs when I was 2 years old,” he said.
He grew to love the game and credits his coach, Griffin, for helping him with his game. Scott played at LB with Jay Gilliland and the three of them often play together.
“He’s a family friend and he sees me a lot,” said Mason. “If I’m having trouble with my swing he knows how to fix it.”
Mason didn’t have much trouble with his swing at James River this season. He shot an even par 71 in the state Class 2 tournament at the Hobbs Hole course in Tappahannock to tie for fourth in the tournament. That earned him all-state honors in Class 2.
“Mason is one of the hardest working golfers I have ever worked with,” said Knights coach Cox. “He works relentlessly with his coach, Scott. He has matured so much in the past two years and is always willing to help the younger golfers, giving them pointers. He has grown into a great teammate and he encourages those around him. He is an all-around good kid. He served on the Student Senate last year as the representative from the golf team and he is a great student, academically.”
River is not losing any starters from this year’s team, which finished seventh in the state, and Mason is hoping the Knights can make a run for the team title next fall.
“I think we have a chance, we’ll definitely try our best,” he said.
In the meantime, Mason will be playing a lot of golf. He works at the Botetourt Golf & Swim Club and is around the game constantly.
“I love it,” he said. “I get to play a lot at Botetourt and I play with my dad and Scott every Sunday at 1:30.”
And they don’t have to worry about hitting one in the ocean in Troutville.
