Pat Carter reacts after sinking a birdie putt on the 17th hole during the West Virginia Amateur golf tournament held on the Old White Course at The Greenbrier on Friday, July 31, 2020.
Pat Carter, of Huntington, tees off as the U.S. Senior Amateur Golf qualifier takes place on Wednesday, July 10, 2024, at Sleepy Hollow Golf Club in Hurricane.
Pat Carter, of Huntington, swings as the U.S. Senior Amateur Golf qualifier takes place on Wednesday, July 10, 2024, at Sleepy Hollow Golf Club in Hurricane.
Pat Carter of Huntington makes a shot as he competes during the final round of the 2021 WVGA Senior Open on May 17, 2021, at the Guyan Golf & Country Club in Huntington.
Pat Carter reacts after sinking a birdie putt on the 17th hole during the West Virginia Amateur golf tournament held on the Old White Course at The Greenbrier on Friday, July 31, 2020.
Pat Carter, of Huntington, tees off as the U.S. Senior Amateur Golf qualifier takes place on Wednesday, July 10, 2024, at Sleepy Hollow Golf Club in Hurricane.
Pat Carter, of Huntington, swings as the U.S. Senior Amateur Golf qualifier takes place on Wednesday, July 10, 2024, at Sleepy Hollow Golf Club in Hurricane.
Pat Carter of Huntington makes a shot as he competes during the final round of the 2021 WVGA Senior Open on May 17, 2021, at the Guyan Golf & Country Club in Huntington.
Pat Carter smiled, laughed and accepted congratulatory handshakes Wednesday after winning the U.S. Senior Amateur qualifier golf tournament at the Sleepy Hollow Golf Club in Hurricane, West Virginia.
Then he stopped, as suddenly as if someone had pulled the plug that energized him. His hands went to his face and his head bowed.
òòò½ÊÓƵœDayna,òòò½ÊÓƵ Carter heard someone mention. His late wifeòòò½ÊÓƵ™s name brought arguably the premier amateur golfer in state history to a halt, flooding him with emotions that bubble to the surface from time to time since her death on Dec. 2, 2023.
òòò½ÊÓƵœWhew,òòò½ÊÓƵ Carter whispered, wiping tears from his eyes after a 10-second pause.
Carter, 59, has won 13 state am titles, 10 in a row from 1995 through 2004. He qualified for the U.S. Amateur nine times and was the 2001 state amateur athlete of the year. He was inducted into the Marshall University Athletic Hall of Fame in 2005 and the West Virginia Golf Hall of Fame in 2013. He won his fifth consecutive state senior open in May.
Heòòò½ÊÓƵ™d trade all of it for one more day with his beloved Dayna.
òòò½ÊÓƵœThis has been the most difficult year of my life,òòò½ÊÓƵ Carter said. òòò½ÊÓƵœIòòò½ÊÓƵ™m really glad to turn the corner.òòò½ÊÓƵ
The hurt runs deep. As Dayna battled cancer, Carter was by her side. Golf could wait, and it did. The game he loved and dominated was still there when he returned to the course after two years of caring for his wife.
òòò½ÊÓƵœIt is,òòò½ÊÓƵ Carter said, his voice cracking. òòò½ÊÓƵœI couldnòòò½ÊÓƵ™t do it the last couple of years. òòò½ÊÓƵœGetting back out here and competing finally is helpful. Itòòò½ÊÓƵ™s still hard. Itòòò½ÊÓƵ™s only been seven and a half months. Iòòò½ÊÓƵ™m going to get through it.òòò½ÊÓƵ
Carter said he envisions Dayna watching him play. That motivates him to perform well every bit as much as the desire to win ever has.
òòò½ÊÓƵœI think sheòòò½ÊÓƵ™s smiling today,òòò½ÊÓƵ Carter said, his voice lilting, his eyes brightened. òòò½ÊÓƵœOh, and what a great smile she had. She was so pretty. I certainly outkicked my coverage.òòò½ÊÓƵ
May 12, the Cartersòòò½ÊÓƵ™ anniversary, was particularly hard for the former Barboursville High School all-stater, now an executive with Woodmen of the World life insurance company. So was March 9, Pat Carteròòò½ÊÓƵ™s birthday, and May 10, when Daynaòòò½ÊÓƵ™s daughter Caroline graduated from law school at Washington & Lee University.
Each day brings a special memory. Maybe a glimpse of someone who resembles Dayna, a voice that reminds him of her. A TV show she liked or a thought from out of nowhere causes tears to well up. Golf, though, is an important part of the coping process.
òòò½ÊÓƵœIòòò½ÊÓƵ™ve been blessed,òòò½ÊÓƵ said Carter, who shot an even-par 72 to win the Senior Am qualifier. òòò½ÊÓƵœIòòò½ÊÓƵ™ve been blessed with golf in my life. Hopefully my health holds up. Iòòò½ÊÓƵ™ve had some back issues and knee issues. I about broke a foot two years ago. I was so healthy for years. I havenòòò½ÊÓƵ™t been the last couple of years. This game has given me so much. Like I said, Iòòò½ÊÓƵ™m so blessed because of it. I try so much.òòò½ÊÓƵ
A part of that trying is giving back where he can. On Tuesday, Carter played golf with a son of fellow former Marshall golfer John Duty.
òòò½ÊÓƵœThatòòò½ÊÓƵ™s the main thing about this,òòò½ÊÓƵ Carter said. òòò½ÊÓƵœThis little community we have is so fun. It makes it nice. Winning is irrelevant at that point. Iòòò½ÊÓƵ™ve done enough. To get out here and see the smile on Johnòòò½ÊÓƵ™s sonòòò½ÊÓƵ™s face when he hit a good shot, it just made my whole day. Thatòòò½ÊÓƵ™s what itòòò½ÊÓƵ™s all about.òòò½ÊÓƵ
Bryon Lewis often caddies for Carter, including during the last four State Senior Opens.
òòò½ÊÓƵœIòòò½ÊÓƵ™ve gotten to the point that the seriousness of it is pretty much past,òòò½ÊÓƵ Carter said. òòò½ÊÓƵœI have great friends like Bryon. We have such a good time. He loved Dayna.òòò½ÊÓƵ
Lewis said the relationship with Carter extends deeper than golf. Their sons played baseball together, and the two struck up a friendship.
òòò½ÊÓƵœWe donòòò½ÊÓƵ™t really talk about golf out there,òòò½ÊÓƵ Lewis said. òòò½ÊÓƵœItòòò½ÊÓƵ™s fun. Itòòò½ÊÓƵ™s a lot of fun.òòò½ÊÓƵ
Carteròòò½ÊÓƵ™s next challenge is the West Virginia Open, set for July 31 through Aug. 2 at the Edgewood Country Club in Sissonville.
òòò½ÊÓƵœItòòò½ÊÓƵ™s tough to win in anything,òòò½ÊÓƵ Carter said. òòò½ÊÓƵœItòòò½ÊÓƵ™s not easy. Thatòòò½ÊÓƵ™s what we always talk about among us golfers. No matter what, itòòò½ÊÓƵ™s very difficult. Even on the PGA Tour, those guys do very well, but very few win consistently.òòò½ÊÓƵ
Winning isnòòò½ÊÓƵ™t as important as it once was to Carter. He made plans with a friend from northeastern Ohio to play a course there. Itòòò½ÊÓƵ™s all part of the healing process.
òòò½ÊÓƵœI know Iòòò½ÊÓƵ™m a better person because of it, and I love everyone who has supported me,òòò½ÊÓƵ Carter said of surviving the last two years. òòò½ÊÓƵœI would do it all again just to spend some time with Dayna.òòò½ÊÓƵ
Tim Stephens is a sports writer with The Herald-Dispatch.
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