11/02/07 Rumpelstiltskin told more believable stories than the one I'm about to tell you. This story is about an amateur golfer with Brady's good looks, Jeter's smile and Tiger's swing.
Couple those qualities with his Marcus Allen-like humility and the result is a person who is an utter joy to befriend. The latter of these characteristics is certainly the most impressive of his traits, considering he sank three holes-in-one in his short, yet illustrious career.
Perhaps it was out of jealousy why not one of his playing partners ever offered to comply with tradition and spot the phenom a post-round beer. Perhaps after winning five city-wide tournaments his fairway buddies simply began expecting aces. Or maybe, the reason for no one buying this guy a celebratory brew is because the amateur golfer I'm talking about is 10 years old.
Kevin Lane, a fifth grader at Ascension Elementary School in Overland Park, hit his first hole-in-one before he knew how to do long division. His second came before he knew the state capitals and his third before he began taking phone calls from females. I can just hear the recess conversations with this kid.
Jonny Youngster: "I listened to Hannah Montana and got a new lunchbox this weekend. What did you do Kev?"
Kevin Lane: "I shot 81, beat my dad's co-workers in a round of best ball and holed out from a buck thirty."
That conversation would never take place; however, because Kevin Lane is the most humble athlete I have ever encountered. When I was first found out about his three holes-in-one in the past year, I immediately began my research. The National Hole-In-One Association pegs Kevin's chances of acing three holes at 198,000-1 odds. Statistically, he has a better chance at dating a model, winning an Academy Award or being hurt by a toilet.
Excited about the opportunity to play with what could be the next big thing in golf, I suppressed my concern about losing and decided to tee it up with Kevin last Saturday at the par-3 links in Overland Park. I was doomed the moment he answered the door. He marinated in professionalism, sporting a Carolina-blue Nike Golf hat/shirt combo and freshly pressed khakis. In "Caddyshack" terms, he was Ty Webb to my Carl Spackler.
Unfortunately for me (and my pride), he played as good as he looked. We were tied going into the third hole when a conversation on the tee box halted my momentum. Do you have any idea how daunting it is to be lining up a shot and hear a 10-year old say, "This hole was my favorite of all my holes in one"? My tee shot then proceeded to endanger the lives of several squirrels and other grass-dwelling creatures as it skipped roughly 43 yards on the ground. With a swing smoother than a Norelco ad, Kevin landed his 15 feet from the pin.
The bloodbath ensued from there. I gawked as he went par or better on the next five of six holes. His short game was unbelievable, meticulously reading putts and green slopes just like his hero Tiger. I quickly understood how this kid has dominated the Midwest Junior Golf Tour, winning the Vinzant Memorial Tournament three times and the Fred Arbanas Invitational once. When he sank a beautiful 14-foot birdie putt on seven that had more curve to it than a David Beckham free kick, I easily grasped how Shorty was able to post a 26 at the par-3 course.
At the end of the round, the scorecard said he won by three strokes, but it certainly felt like more. I'm sure there are more humbling experiences than losing to a 10-year-old, although at the moment I can't think of one. He told me he wants to play at his dad's alma mater, the University of North Carolina and eventually be on the PGA Tour. If he continues at his current pace, he certainly has a shot. In fact, the only thing unrealistic about his vision is the prize he'll be awarded when he does it. Does the Brooks Uniform Company make green jackets in a 29 slim?
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