Brooke Pernice starts things on an inspirational note
By Lauren Deason, PGATOUR.COM Editorial Coordinator
HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. -- An intimate group of fans and players gathered for a Sunday service on the 18th green at 7:30 a.m., several hours before the first players hit the hole.
The sun barely peaked over the horizon, casting an orange and yellow glow over the course. A brisk wind swept off the water to the left of the green, whipping around the stands.
Hilton Head's majestic red-and-white striped lighthouse towered behind the setting but few people milled about in its shadow. At that time of day, it was even too early for the pin flag to sit in the hole.
The calm scene contrasted sharply to what would unfold in less than 12 hours when the final putt dropped. That is, until the peacefulness was shattered -- for good reason -- by Brooke Pernice.
Brooke, daughter of PGA TOUR professional Tom Pernice, Jr., was born with Leber's Amaurosis. Blind since birth because of the disease, the 13-year-old has never seen her father strike a golf shot and couldn't witness the glorious view behind her.
What the teenager lacks in size and sight, she makes up for in spunk, a powerful yet angelic voice and a wisdom far beyond her years. When Brooke was 7 years old, she says, the Lord told her she would have a ministry through music.
"We all have talents and gifts," she said on Sunday, "God gave me the gift of singing."
Brooke's mother Sydney also received insight from above, finding lyrics and words coming to her that she wrote down for her daughter. Brooke now has a CD out, which the Pernices financed, and performed the national anthem in front of 25,000 people prior to a concert by country music star Darryl Worley.
As she performed two songs at No. 18, Aaron Baddeley, Glen Day and Ben Crane were in the crowd. Baddeley won the Verizon Heritage in 2006 and led the same sunrise service on No. 18 prior to his victory. When he captured the tartan jacket and his first PGA TOUR victory two years ago, Baddeley spoke about his faith. For that he's still one of Brooke's favorite golfers.
Jose Alvarez, a member of the Fellowship Christian Athletes staff and former Major League Baseball player, conducted an interview with Tom. Brooke then took the stage and sang two of her songs: "Heading Home" (a story about a daughter missing her father as he's on the road) and "Day by Day", which received a standing ovation from the crowd.
After Alvarez delivered a short message, Baddeley and Day made their way through the crowd to give Brooke a hug. In just a few hours Baddeley -- tied for third and five strokes behind leader Boo Weekley at the start of the day -- would have to be back at the course for his round.
No doubt he found a little something to inspire him on Sunday morning.
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What else does a PGA TOUR player do on Sunday morning prior to the final round?
Jay Williamson spent Saturday night at 4-under par after three days of golf at the Verizon Heritage. Instead of devoting the next morning to last-minute practice, however, the father of three was spotted on a bike ride with his family. Williamson even rode with his son strapped behind him in a seat.
"It's a great place to come. The family loves it here," Williamson said earlier in the week.
The tournament in kid-friendly Sea Pines is one of the best for TOUR dads. Harbour Town's quaint shops and tasty restaurants offer entertainment and food within walking distance for the little ones. Under the massive old oak tree near the lighthouse, singer Gregg Russell lets youngsters join him on stage and croon songs about purple-people eaters, unicorns and boogers in the sugar.
No doubt Williamson enjoyed spending the week on the island with his family. It would have been especially sweet, though, if Daddy had captured his first PGA TOUR win.
After an opening-round 67 he was just one shot off the lead. His Thursday round featured five birdies on his first five holes.
"I've been out here 11 years now, a long time. I need a win. My wife says it's time. She missed every birdie today," Williamson said following the first round. "She got there on No. 7.
"Bless her heart. She says she was in detox from the kids," Williamson joked.
Subsequent rounds of 69 and 73 placed him tied for 18th going into the final day. Win or lose, though, it's been a fun-filled week.
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Fellow Southerner Brandt Snedeker gave Boo Weekley a run for the "largest gallery" superlative on Sunday. Scores of fans flocked to see young Snedeker in the final round.
His tearful but respectable finish at the Masters Tournament last week earned him many admirers. Snedeker said earlier in the week that he's recently been approached by sympathetic people offering their condolences.
While appreciative of all of his fan support from Sea Island, Ga., to his home in Nashville, Tenn., Snedeker kept it their well-meaning pity in perspective.
"I'm sitting there smiling, saying, 'I just finished third in the Masters. Nobody died. We're fine,'" he said prior to the start of the Verizon Heritage.
Speaking of fans, Weekley enjoyed his fair share and heard a chorus of "Boos" each time the crowd approved of a shot. But it was Anthony Kim with the die-hard followers on Sunday.
Nine women from Kentucky painted "Team AK" on their pastel tank tops to cheer on the young golfer in Weekley's group. The group -- three of whom received tickets from Kim to attend the tournament -- coordinated a cheer for well-played holes: one "Whoo Hoo" for a birdie, two "Whoo Hoos" for an eagle.
"Arnold Palmer had his army," Jan Hanser, Kim's No. 1 fan and leader of the operation, explained, "and we are Team AK."
Hanser first met Kim at a charity golf tournament two years ago and has followed him ever since. Kim hugs her the first time he sees her each day and seemed to appreciate their support. He struggled on the second hole and dropped a shot but regained it with a birdie on No. 6.
As a "whoo hoo" sounded out above the applause, Kim nodded his hat in thanks. His girlfriend had to take a scary trip to the emergency room earlier this week and neither she nor his coach or friends accompanied him like usual. So he was glad to have a cheering section.
"There's about 12 women out here that are cheering me on. It's kind of nice," Kim said. "I met these people through a family friend and they've been hanging out ever since."
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For the first time in tournament history, recently crowned Verizon Heritage winner Boo Weekley finished his interviews then signed a golf cart for charity. The Club Car cart was auctioned off at the Midlands Heart Ball over two weeks ago and Steve Wilmot, the tournament director, drove it all week.
Club Car and Marty Holmes donated the exclusive cart for the auction. The proceeds from the sale will go towards the American Heart Association, a national health agency that hopes to reduce disabilities and deaths from cardiovascular disease and strokes.
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It was a good week for defending champions. Boo Weekley captured his second straight win at the Verizon Heritage on the PGA TOUR. On the Champions Tour, Tom Watson went back-to-back at the Outback Steakhouse Pro-Am.
No player has ever successfully defended on the Nationwide Tour.
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