By SAM McDOWELL
smcdowell@islandpacket.com
843-706-8123
Matt Jager referred to himself as an intense competitor during last summer’s Players Amateur at Belfair Golf Club’s East Course. But in one of the most significant tournaments of his life, he couldn’t help but laugh and enjoy an opponent’s remarkable performance.
Mark Anderson’s day simply warranted his attention.
Sure, when Jager scored an eagle on the 13th hole, he was able to garner the attention for a handful of seconds. But Anderson quickly responded with a 30-foot birdie putt to make his seventh birdie of the day. This was his day.
Anderson often thinks back to that round of golf. He remembers the putt as if it happened a few hours ago, along with other shots that followed throughout his course record-breaking round of 60.
“Best round of my life,” recalls the Beaufort resident. “No question about it.”
He uses it as a tool for motivation while he’s on the practice green or at the driving range. During a pressure-filled spot in a golf tournament, Anderson said his thoughts about that day can help put him at ease and clear his mind.
“I felt very calm and very patient all day long,” Anderson said. “My mindset was the difference. I felt confident all over the ball, no matter where I was on the course. And I put everything together and produced something really special.”
What he produced, thanks to a four-day total of 22-under par, was an entry into the Verizon Heritage at Harbour Town Golf Links, a tournament that was always just a short drive away from his home as a kid in Beaufort.
Anderson’s stories about Harbour Town are a bit more in depth than the normal spectator. He’s competed — and won twice — in junior events at the course. In back-to-back years, he came away with victories in tournaments that were part of the Plantations Junior Golf Tour.
Though he won’t be able to use any pointers he learned about the course over those years, Anderson does plan to draw back on that experience.
“I keep reminding myself to play like I was a little kid,” Anderson said.
“That’s when I play my best, when I clear my mind and play for the fun of it.”
That strategy worked out well for him over the four days last July, especially on the greens. Anderson made numerous long-distance putts throughout the Players Amateur and said after the final round he’d just completed the best putting performance of his career.
“The key to me is if I can get hot with the putter, I can make a lot of birdies and a lot of pars,” Anderson said. “Having my short game in good shape will give me a chance.”
If he does have a chance to make the cut and continue playing over the weekend, he’d make history in the process. No Players Amateur winner has ever made the cut at the Heritage.
“I never thought I’d ever even play there in a PGA event,” Anderson said. “At that time, I went out there to have fun and meet some friends. It wasn’t anything like it is now. So I’m just going to have fun with it.”
The friends will still be there — in record numbers. Anderson expects more than 100 friends and family members to back him at the Heritage.
And it certainly would be no surprise if even those who don’t know him personally are supporting the former Beaufort Academy golfer today.
“That might be the most exciting thing out of all of this,” Anderson said. “I’m going to be the small town local guy. Everyone will know I am.
I’ll probably have the biggest crowd of just about everyone.
“I just need to give them a reason to make noise.”
