Hanging Rock’s Chip Sullivan set for PGA major in Rochester, N.Y.

Hanging Rock pro Chip Sullivan will be making his sixth appearance in the PGA Championship beginning this week in Rochester, New York. Golf's fourth 'major' of the year plays out Thursday through Sunday at Oak Hill Country Club.
Hanging Rock pro Chip Sullivan will be making his sixth appearance in the PGA Championship beginning this week in Rochester, New York. Golf’s fourth ‘major’ of the year plays out Thursday through Sunday at Oak Hill Country Club.

When the best professional golfers in the world tee it up this Thursday in the final major of the year at Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester, New York, Roanoke will have one of its own standing on the first tee to compete with the likes of Phil Mickleson, Tiger Woods, Bubba Watson and Adam Scott.

Hanging Rock pro Chip Sullivan will be in the field to hopefully give the big boys a run for their money.

Sullivan, after qualifying as a PGA professional with a top-20 finish in the PGA Professional National Championship in Oregon this past June, will be making his sixth appearance in the bigger PGA  tournament.

The Crosswater Club in Oregon has obviously become one of Chip’s favorite venues. On the same course in 2007, Sullivan won the 40th PGA Professional National Championship, the showcase event for the countries PGA professionals as club and teaching pros, when he carded five front-nine birdies in the final round to build a three-shot lead, then cruising to a 2-under-par 70 and a four-stroke victory.
The win was worth $ 75,000 from a $ 550,000 total purse.

“It’s my sixth time at the big PGA Championship and this year is more significant,” Sullivan said during a special interview last week. “My three kids are older so they get to see their dad as a rock star and cheer me on.” Sullivan will have his wife Kari and children Kailey, Camryn and Colby in tow to enjoy the unique experience.

Sullivan, 48, may be competing with the best golfers in the world, but make no mistake about it, his goals for the 4-day tournament are lofty.

“I want to finish in the top-20,” Sullivan responded with confidence when asked the question. “My best finish in this event was 31st in 2004. It was the highest finish among club professionals since 1969.”

“It’s a whole lot different for a club professional,” Sullivan added. “I’ve played in a lot of tour events and had some great results. But, at the same time, you realize you have a day-to-day job. I understand that and that maturity will help.”

“It would be easy to say just making the cut would be great, but you have to set your goals higher. From my introduction to the game at an early age, I still love being round golf in some way, shape or form.”

One thing will be noticably different for Sullivan in 2013. HIs longtime caddy and father-in-law, Tom Hall, will not be on his bag for the first time in Chip’s six appearances. Hall tragically took his own life two years ago after a bout with depression.

“He was on my bag every time,” Sullivan noted. “And, he was my best friend. It’s been two years and we’ve been able to come through the tragedy.”

Sullivan, after careful study, has enlisted Blacksburg Country Club head pro Brad Emery to fill Hall’s huge absence. Emery fits the bill as a qualified caddy, having been a former assistant pro at Oak HIll.
“Brad should definitely know the course,” Sullivan pointed out with a smile.

By Bill Turner

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