Curtis boys’ golf match against Tahoma has special dedication

Before the Curtis High School boys golf team teed off against Tahoma on Monday, Vikings coach Brian Buell took a moment to reflect with the athletes.

Buell talked about dedicating the match to former Chambers Bay assistant manager Jamie Fay — who organized the Vikings’ inaugural match at the University Place golf course last month.

Fay died Aug. 29 after a tree fell on his moving station wagon in Gig Harbor during a windstorm.

“I said let’s keep him in our thoughts … it was pretty emotional, really,” Buell said.

Fay joined the Chambers Bay staff in 2008 — about a year after the course’s inception — as the director of sales and marketing, and was named assistant general manager in 2011.

“The community outpouring that the Chambers Bay family has seen, and that Jamie’s family has seen, following the tragic accident has been really heartwarming,” Chambers Bay general manager Matt Allen said.

Buell said he has been lobbying to get Curtis a tee time at Chambers Bay for a couple of years, and was put in contact with Fay this summer, following the completion of the U.S. Open. Buell met with Fay to finalize the tee time on Aug. 28.

“He had wanted us here for a while, and was looking for the right time and the right moment to support the teams in the community,” Buell said.

Which the golfers kept in mind as they played through 18 holes.

“He was a big part of this golf course … he will always be remembered here, and he will always be with us when we walk around this place,” Curtis senior Hunter Hechtman said.

Hechtman — who regularly caddies at Chambers Bay — shot a 7-over-par 79 to lead Curtis, and finished third overall.

The Bears (6-1) bested the Vikings (4-2), 142-123. Tahoma’s Colt Sherrell was the medalist, shooting a 4-over 76. Parker Kneadler shot a second-best 6-over 78.

“I wanted a tough team to play against,” Buell said. “Tahoma’s one of the tougher teams in the (SPSL).”

Hechtman said there is nothing like playing a U.S. Open golf course.

“It’s going to kick your butt, but you can also have a lot of fun out here,” he said. “It’s really nice to challenge your game and be able to play shots that the pros did.”

Curtis — which primarily considers Meadow Park Golf Course in Tacoma its home course — started practicing at Chambers Bay one day per week this season. The Vikings visit the course on Fridays to use the driving range, and often play the front nine until dark.

“These guys are beside themselves,” Buell said. “They get to play at a U.S. Open course. How many high schools get to do that? It’s unbelievable.”

Curtis — the only high school in University Place — and the PLU and UPS golf programs each have relationships with Chambers Bay, Allen said.

“While we can’t necessarily be an exclusive home to any of those places, we certainly want Chambers Bay to be one of their homes, and for them to use it as much as possible to improve the experience for the kids,” he said.

“Anything that the county golf course system can do to make lifelong golfers is good for the health of the game.”

This story was originally published September 28, 2015 at 11:40 PM with the headline "Curtis boys’ golf match against Tahoma has special dedication."