THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, January 13, 1995 TAG: 9501130614
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Column
SOURCE: Bob Molinaro
LENGTH: Medium: 83 lines
HONOLULU - On Wednesday, Carl Paulson went bodysurfing at Makapuu Beach on the windward side of Oahu.
It was a fine way to spend another breezy, balmy afternoon in paradise. With the surf rolling high and white toward the brilliant sandy beaches, Paulson could forget - almost - that he had come all this way for nothing.
``It's kind of a bummer,'' he said.
A week in paradise a bummer? It can be if you are a PGA rookie who flew in from Virginia Beach expecting to tee it up for the first time with the big-bank account pros at the $1.2 million Hawaiian Open.
``I just want to go out and play golf and keep it as simple as I can,'' he said a few days before leaving home, ``which will probably be impossible.''
He didn't know how right he would be. At the Waialae Country Club, Paulson got bad news. About 20 veteran players had entered the event at the last moment, nudging Paulson and other newcomers from the field of 144.
When Paulson boarded a plane in Norfolk the Friday before the tournament, he was a member of the field. When he landed in Hawaii, he was an alternate. The waiting game began. To no avail. His PGA career had been beached temporarily.
``At least five or six people did the same thing I did,'' he said. ``Either we're all idiots or the communications with the tournament were screwed up.''
It was a learning experience this rookie could have done without. Because he was the fifth alternate, Paulson knew by Wednesday that he was free to hit the surf.
Jonathan Kaye of Boulder, Colo., another 1994 qualifying-school graduate, was still wandering around the country club Thursday morning, just in case a player pulled a muscle climbing out of a courtesy car.
Kaye was the first alternate. His parents flew in from Denver expecting to see him play. Well, mom and dad can always tour the Diamond Head volcano.
One way or another, disappointment is the companion of tour rookies. Paulson, a First Colonial High grad who just turned 24, anticipates taking his lumps. But he never expected to be blindsided like this.
``I was pretty shocked,'' he said. ``I called the PGA office before I left. I thought once they told you your number was in, you were in.''
Marty Caffey, media coordinator for the PGA Tour, sympathizes.
``In the past, just about everybody out of qualifying school has gotten in here,'' he said. ``I can't fault him for assuming he'd play. It's not a grevious error on his part. I would suspect, though, that next time, he'll call our office a little bit later before leaving for a tournament.''
Caffey picked up a sheet of paper. On it was the complete list of alternates, talented, hungry - unknown - golfers who had come a long way to stake a claim, however small.
Although the ink is barely dry on Paulson's PGA Tour Card, he has established as his goal for 1995 to finish among the top 80 money winners. About $200,000 should do the trick. That's a lot of money. And a lot of good golf to play under difficult conditions.
``I don't envy these guys coming out of Q school,'' Caffey said. ``Not only do you have to wonder if you'll get in the tournament, but you've got to figure out how to play the course and find a caddie. It's a lot to handle.''
Paulson brought a caddie with him. In Bret Pendergast, he has a teammate from the University of South Carolina, as well as somebody who spent his junior-high years in Oahu. Pendergast is showing Paulson the sites while the pair stays with the family of a former Marine, acquaintances of Paulson's father.
``It's not costing me anything, so why not stay here the rest of the week?'' Paulson said. ``I can get in some practice.''
Sometime today, he'll know if he's made it into next week's Tucson Open. If all else fails, he can expect to play at the AT&T Pro-Am at Pebble Beach the first week of February - the field is 180. It's about as close to a guarantee as a rookie can expect.
Nobody ever said the golf business isn't treacherous. It could be worse, though, which goes without saying.
As the Hawaiian Open opened without him, Paulson washed away some of his frustrations in the magnificent Pacific surf. It's not a bad way to suffer as you wait for the tide to roll in on your future. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
Virginia Beach's Carl Paulson was bumped from his first PGA event by
late entries.
by CNB