T.J. Heidel has been the head pro at Babe Zaharias Golf Course in Tampa for 18 months. Every day on the job he walks past a sign near the pro shop that reads: "Course record, Woody Austin 62, Mike Smith 62." And every day, Heidel would tell himself, soon a new sign would be needed.
Monday was the day.
Heidel shot a course-record 60 at "The Babe," a par-70 course in the Forest Hills area of northwest Tampa where he has played since he was 8 years old. Heidel, 29, shot 31-29, which included bogey on the back nine. One of his playing partners was Daniel Dunn, his pastor at Real Life Church in Tampa.
"Once I made the turn at 31, I knew I had a chance," Heidel said. "I made five birdies and an eagle on the back nine, but I had a bogey on the 16th. All I can think about is if I didn't get a bogey, I could've shot 59."
Heidel, like Austin, attended Chamberlain High, and after graduation he tried to make a living playing golf. When it didn't work out, he ended up at Babe Zaharias, but he still plays tournaments when he can find sponsorships.
Soon that new sign with his course record will go up. And he thinks Austin, a PGA Tour pro, will want to take back his record, which stood since 2004.
"I got a call from one of Woody's best friends and he said Woody wants to come out and take a shot at it when he's in town for the Disney tournament," Heidel said. "I'd be happy to have him take a shot at it."
Rodney Page can be reached at page@sptimes.com, golf@sptimes.com or (727) 893-8810.
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