Some of you may recall our February column about William Neff, the 16-year-old Village Christian Academy golfer, who was born with renal failure and says had it not been for his caring physicians at UNC Children’s – North Carolina Children’s Hospital in Chapel Hill, he likely would not be alive.
“They are the ones who saved my life,” he said, “and through their care have gotten me to where I am today.”
And where Neff found himself Wednesday was shaking hands with Scottie Scheffler at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, where Scheffler is bidding to defend his FedExCup title as the 29-year-old continues to establish himself as the sport’s most prolific player.
“He asked how I was,” Neff said. “He asked what I was thinking about for college golf-wise. He was a very genuine dude.”
You don’t just find yourself every day shaking hands with the finest golfer in the game. Neff was at East Lake Golf Club at the invitation of the American Junior Golf Association because of his efforts this year to raise funds for the UNC Children’s – North Carolina Children’s Hospital.
‘It’s not something you get to do every day’
Along with two other youngsters — Emily Strong of Florida and Colin McAskin of New York City — also raising funds for charitable causes, they were invited to spend Wednesday and part of Thursday’s first round shadowing Golf Channel reporter Todd Lewis, who is known for his passion for the AJGA.
Lewis introduced the youngsters to Scheffler.
“He was ending an interview with Todd, and Todd walked him over to us,” Neff said. “He told Scheffler about our fundraisers, and how we were shadowing him that day.”
Lewis introduced the youngsters to golfers Harris English, Corey Conners, Andrew Novak, Billy Horschel and Tommy Fleetwood.
“We caught Harris English right out of a press conference,” Neff said. “He talked to us about high school and college golf. Corey Conners was coming off the putting green. He was a super nice guy as well.”
Fleetwood was tuning his game on the driving range.
“After he finished, we talked to him a bit,” Neff said. “He was a super nice guy. He apparently partners with the AJGA in Dubai, so he really appreciated us being there.”
Neff says he did not have the opportunity to meet Rory McIlroy, the 36-year-old Irishman who completed golf’s grand slam of major titles with his April victory for the Masters green jacket at Augusta, Ga.
There also was an opportunity to meet Golf Channel anchors Rich Lerner and Brandel Chamblee.
“Brandel Chamblee and Rich Lerner may have been my favorite people to talk to,” Neff said. “Brandel Chamblee told us some stories of when he was playing. And Rich Lerner was very nice. Just seeing them in person, it was awesome.”
William Neff still is pinching himself that he this week found himself up close and personal with some of the world’s finest golfers in the game.
“I was kind of shocked,” he said. “It’s not something you get to do every day.”
Rooting for the Englishman
Neff will be keeping his eye on the leaderboard as the FedExCup concludes today.
“I’m really pulling for Tommy Fleetwood,” Neff says about the 34-year-old Englishman, who is hoping to win for the first time on U.S. soil after recent close calls. “He always has been one of my favorite golfers. I’ve always liked Fleetwood’s swing.”
While Scottie Scheffler is the odds-on-favorite, Neff isn’t so sure if Scheffler will continue his golf dominance this weekend and bring home the $10 million first-place check.
You read it right. Ten million dollars.
“I have a feeling Scheffler’s not going to win this week,” he said. “Russell Henley (the first-round leader) is playing really solid, but it’s hard to bet against Scottie Scheffler.”
As for Rory McIlroy, Neff doesn’t see him hoisting the FedExCup.
“I like him,” he said, “but I think he’s going to be in the middle of the pack.”
What William Neff does know for sure is that he one day hopes to become a professional golfer like Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, Tommy Fleetwood, Harris English, Corey Conners, Andrew Novak and Billy Horschel.
“It was quite a trip,” he said. “It was very exciting. It was definitely a dream come true. Probably one of the coolest experiences I ever had. “
Epilogue
Barry Neff says the AJGA invitation was prompted by his son’s decision to raise funds for UNC Children’s – North Carolina Children’s Hospital in Chapel Hill, which now is at more than $17,000.
“This journey and once-in-a-lifetime experience all started with the CityView article, and for that we are grateful,” Neff said. “We are truly blessed to live in such a great community.”
William Neff says his fundraising effort runs through December.
“There’s still a good amount of time left,” he said. “It’s really cool for the UNC Children’s Hospital. I would not be here right now if not for those doctors at UNC.”
Bill Kirby Jr. can be reached at billkirby49@gmail.com or 910-624-1961.
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