WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. — Tony Gibson’s golf game showed flashes of respectability during Wednesday’s pro-am at the Greenbrier Classic.
Then the back nine bit him.
Especially hole No. 16.
West Virginia’s defensive coordinator skulled his drive into the water and immediately turned toward the nearby cameras.
“Delete that one,” he said.
In the midst of a two-week vacation that will take him and his family from the Greenbrier to Myrtle Beach, Gibson enjoyed a few solid swings.
“I went on about a six-hole stretch that was really good, but then I had three holes that killed me,” he said. “I live on a golf course, so I should be a little bit better than I am. But football gets in the way.”
Gibson played in a group with West Virginia basketball legend Hot Rod Hundley and current WVU hoops assistant Ron Everhart. They hacked alongside pro Roberto Castro, who Gibson noted was “fun to watch.”
Could the Mountaineers’ defense be fun to watch this fall under Gibson’s direction?
“I really am excited—we’ve got a lot of returning guys,” Gibson said. “So I’m excited for where we’re at coming out of spring. We’ve got a great opportunity in front of us.”
THE BUZZ
Virginia Tech’s newly hired basketball coach Buzz Williams, prepping to play his first full round of golf in seven years, promised his pro-am appearance would feature “a lot of bloopers.”
“Normally I play two or three holes and keep moving,” he said.
Wearing a Hokies golf shirt given to him minutes previously by playing partner Frank Beamer, Williams joked that the lush course and professional setting was a little intimidating.
“First of all I’ve never had a caddy,” he said. “It would probably be better if he played and I caddied for him.”
The former Marquette coach also cracked wise about bringing his rebuilding Virginia Tech team to Morgantown next season: “I’m sure the fans will be real excited to see me.”
HERD THAT
The Marshall contingent that included Doc Holliday, Dan D’Antoni and Bob Pruett joined professional Scott Brown. They were at 7-under on No. 11 when afternoon thurnderstorms halted play.
“Jim Justice has done such a tremendous job with this place,” Holliday said. “It’s exciting to be a part of it.”