Grip and rip... with Team Wollam

Dude has lots of passions.

That much I know.

Whether it be helping with his dad's racing team... or chasing down a little white ball on a big green lawn... or followin' the Hawks in the house that Kinnick built or maybe even bustin' out his saxophone, Ben Wollam keeps busy.

Needless to say, I had my work cut out for me on Thursday morning as Ben and his entourage arrived. Team Wollam included mom, dad, sis and best friend Paul.

The morning was full of fun, however, as we started with the racecar. As with most racing teams, it's a family affair, and the 3w car is no exception. Sister Aly worked it into her session a few years back and both Ben and Paul's names are on the back of the car... so naturally, it means something to them. Papa Jeff did most of the heavy lifting getting it here and back... so special thank you's to pops for that.

I'd be remiss if I didn't mention it was great to see Miss Aly again. Unbeknownst to her, I had been talking about her behind her back for a few years. And Thursday was the day that it came to light about the "Aly Rule." It's a long story, so you'll have to ask her for the details... but it will suffice to say that back when Al graduated... i made a BIG mistake not letting her drive the H3 at her session. She called me out later that senior season... got her chance to drive it at someone else's session.... and now she has a rule named after her. :)

After the car stuff was put in our hip pocket... attention turned to what I could tell was Ben's real passion.

Golf.

An employee of the Legion Golf Course in Marshalltown, Ben is no weekend hacker. Dude's got game. It's no secret that he's entering his third season of being the Bobcats' top individual. Ninth in conference a year ago... Mr. Wollam knows what he's doing on the fairways and greens.

In fact, in just a little over 40 hours or so, Ben will be boarding a plane and heading to Florida. Palm Beach Gardens, to be exact.

In what he called his biggest accomplishment so far in his young career, Ben qualified recently for the Optimist International Junior Golf Championship. Played in the shadows of the PGA Headquarters, Ben will be teeing it up Tuesday at the PGA National Resort and Spa against some of the finest golfers his age worldwide.

No less than 167 golfers from places like China, Thailand, Japan, Malaysia, Puerto Rico, Ecuador, Jamaica, Colombia, Indonesia, Bermuda, Austrailia and the U.S. will be competing in one of the largest and most prestigious junior golf events in the world.

That doesn't suck.

So, I had my work in front of me trying to do this golfer justice.

Sure we worked in some Hawkeye love... and cracked out the ol' saxophone... but it was the GOLF stuff that meant the most... I could tell.

We neared the end of the long session... and we were already over by two hours... and I just couldn't let it go... so I suggested that I "torture" Ben even longer by following him into work (which I made him late for) at the Legion. (thanks John Schrempf!)

What better way to finish the session than to get Ben in his home away from home... so off to the Legion we went. It had gotten hot and humid again, but no matter... there were images to be had... and as any Tiger Woods fan knows... when the red shirt is on... it's finishing time.

I think we did that.

Good luck in Florida, Ben!