Father-Child Tournament makes for a stressful but fun day
 
Nov. 1, 2007

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Jerry Kelly had a sheepish look on his face, and, trust me, there is nothing sheepish about the PGA TOUR veteran.

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Despite two errant shots -- from the TOUR veteran -- Jerry Kelly enjoyed his father-son time. (Martin/WireImage)

"I put him in the woods twice on the first hole," he said. "I don't know what happened. I turned into my father out there."

That is what Jerry said, laughing, after the Father-Child Tournament held annually on the Wednesday of the tournament now known as the Children's Miracle Network Classic presented by Wal-Mart.

The format is simple enough. Both parent and child hit a drive off of each tee and then they choose the best one. From there they play alternate shot. Lest you think that this event is all fun and games, though, think again. Players have described Wednesday at Disney as one of the most stressful days of the year. Every kid wants the Mickey Mouse trophy that is awarded to the top three teams in each age group.

So Jerry wasn't thinking about the money list or the winning his third TOUR title on Wednesday when he drove it over the first green on the Oak Trail course. He and Cooper took a look at dad's ball in the wood chips, and Cooper wanted to chip it onto the green. Dad didn't think that he would be able to pull it off.

Cooper deftly described how he would hit the shot. He pushed his hands forward, de-lofting his wedge. But all his cajoling went for naught. His dad decided to go back down the fairway and play the younger Kelly's drive. From just inside 150 yards, Dad flew the green again -- and you guessed it, the ball landed right back into the wood chips.

From there, team Kelly struggled to a 7.

"Why didn't I just let him hit the shot?" Jerry lamented Thursday morning.

It probably didn't matter. Justin Isenhour and pops, Tripp, were awfully tough -- edging out Nigel and Craig Perks for the boys 7-9 title. Ironically, Tripp and Justin didn't know they were victorious until after dad shot 71 in the opening round on Thursday. In the younger boys division, Fletcher Pride and Dicky beat Ford Frazer and Harrison.

Even though Dicky closed with a 9-under par 64 on Sunday for his first top-10 of the year, Fletcher wasn't satisfied with his preparation. The 6-year-old told his father that he thought they needed to practice on Monday after school so that they would be ready.

Dicky pulled double duty on Wednesday when he not only partnered with his son but with daughter Isabelle as well. Having to play two balls, Dicky had his hands full. Then, when he holed a punch-out 7-iron on his daughter's ball Fletcher was decidedly upset. "You made one for her you have to make one for me, too."

In the end it didn't matter. The Prides have a lot to be proud of after winning in both divisions.

Chris Tidland hasn't had a lot to smile about this year. The second-year TOUR player is undoubtedly feeling a lot of stress this week sitting 170th on the money list. After his opening-round 71, I asked him if his daughter Isabella had carried him on Wednesday. He laughed and said that they had a great time. Since the results were not posted in the locker room before the early rounds on Thursday, he, too, didn't realize that they had won the girls 4-6 division. When he found out, the smile reflected the joy that only a parent can feel. The fact that there were no other girls in that age group didn't diminish that joy.

The largest margin of victory in any division was authored by the Days. Christina and Glen won the girls 10-12 division by four shots. Glen beamed as he talked about their play.

Thursday night there is a party for the players and their families -- complete with live music, food and games. Mickey himself presents the trophies to the first- and second-place finishers in all divisions. It is one of the most fun nights all year on the PGA TOUR -- regardless of where you are on the money list. Besides, your kids don't care about the money list. Mickey doesn't care, either.