CARMEL
No matter how many rounds of golf Sam Jean and Erica Shepherd ultimately play, what transpired Wednesday created memories designed to last a lifetime.
Invited to take part in the Gardner-Heidrick Pro-Am event at Crooked Stick Golf Club, the Center Grove High School students competed on the course that this morning hosts the first round of the BMW Championship.
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Jean is a junior who helped propel the Trojans boys golf program to a third-place finish at the IHSAA State Finals in June. Shepherd is a sophomore left-hander regarded as one of the nation’s premier girls players.
Joining them for a 2 o’clock tee time off the par-4 first hole were PGA Tour player Chris Kirk and Carmel High School senior golfer Jeff Doty.
“It was amazing. I had a great time. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” said Jean, whose foursome finished with a score of 10-under par.
“I really enjoyed talking to Chris and getting his thoughts. He was very nice.”
The 31-year-old Kirk starts play today as No. 66 on the PGA Tour’s money leaders list for the 2016 season. He has two top-10 finishes to his credit – fifth at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans in April and the World Golf Club Championships-Dell Match Play in March.
Each foursome featured a professional golfer.
Who would be joining Jean and Shepherd wasn’t announced until Tuesday night’s Pro-Am Pairings Party at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Caddying for Shepherd was her older brother, Ethan, a Center Grove senior and teammate of Jean’s during boys golf season.
