Most people’s dreams of performing on life’s biggest stages — like going from regional orchestra member to the New York Philharmonic, from lead band singer to the Grand Ole Opry or from dirt track racer to the Indianapolis 500 — fade in the bright lights of reality.
ABOVE PHOTO: Derek Holmes, a 2010 UW-Stout graduate and former Blue Devil golfer, qualified for this week’s PGA Championship in South Carolina, one of golf four major events
When a 34-year-old University of Wisconsin-Stout graduate made a final hole, 30-foot par putt at a recent golf tournament and looked up at the scoreboard, he realized that his lifelong, too-good-to-be-true dream was, indeed, about to come true.
“When that putt went in, I don’t remember much,” Derek Holmes said.
A short time later, after other golfers finished in the late April qualifying event in Florida, Holmes learned that he officially had qualified for the PGA Championship, one of pro golf’s four major events.
Along with the PGA, golf’s other major championships are the U.S. Open, Masters and British Open, events that helped make Tiger Woods, Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus household names.
On Thursday, May 20, the former Blue Devil golf team member will tee it up at Ocean Course at Kiawah Island Golf Resort near Charleston, S.C., with the best players in the world. CLICK HERE “FORE!” THE COMPLETE STORY
