Old putter helps Kirby clinch championship

• By SCOTT HOTARD
• Advocate sportswriter
• Published: Jul 2, 2009 - Page: 1C

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Last week, Drew Kirby failed to make the cut at the Future Masters in Dothan, Ala.

When he returned to Baton Rouge, the 16-year-old walked into the garage of his family’s home looking for a remedy. He dusted off the putter from his youth, a putter he hadn’t held in years.

The change in equipment — coupled with the familiar greens of the University Club, his home course — came just in time, allowing the Catholic High student to score the biggest tournament victory of his young career.

Kirby won the Louisiana Trusted Choice Big “I” Junior Championship, three-putting only once in 36 holes.

“The key was my putting,” Kirby said. “I made a bunch of short putts for par that really got me going.”

In other words, Kirby wasn’t spectacular. Just spectacularly consistent.

He got to the winning score — 7-under-par 137, including a 2-under 70 in Wednesday’s final round — with one bogey in the two days.

So even as Jordan Karam, a 15-year-old from Lake Charles, closed with a bang — turning in a 67, Kirby’s score Tuesday —the golfer with the new, old putter held his ground.

“More than anything, it was mental,” Mike Kirby said of his son’s trip to the garage. “He needed to wipe the slate clean.”

For winning this week’s PGA Gulf States Tour-run tournament, Kirby received a plaque, a medal and a clubhouse full of high-fives and fist-bumps. But an even bigger prize awaits.

Later this month, Kirby will compete in the Big “I” National Championship, an event Tiger Woods won twice. This year’s tournament is in Ardmore, Okla.

“I hear it’s awesome,” Kirby said.

And yes, he gets to bring a friend.