Manziel-LeBron double-dip provides thrill for new PGA Tour member Harold Varner III

COLUMBUS, Ohio New PGA Tour member Harold Varner III moved from his native Akron to Gastonia, N.C., when he was 6 years old. But he remains so plugged in to the Northeast Ohio sports scene that he pulled off the ultimate Cleveland double-dip last December.

Varner watched his favorite NFL player, Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel, make his first professional start against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, then saw his favorite athlete, LeBron James of the Cavaliers, defeat the Charlotte Hornets on Monday. Discouraged by the 45-minute drive, he didn’t visit family in Copley and Kent.

“I’m a Johnny Football fan. I know y’all aren’t, but whatever,” Varner said Friday. He had just completed a round of 1-over par 72 in the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Championship, the third of four finals events on the Web.com Tour, at Ohio State’s Scarlet Course.

“I’ve only bought one jersey and it’s a Johnny Football jersey. I’m thinking about burning it, but ... “

Varner might have been joking about the jersey. He was still miffed that Browns coach Mike Pettine selected Josh McCown to start over Manziel in Sunday’s home game against the Oakland Raiders after Manziel directed last weekend’s victory over the Tennessee Titans.

“Wins the game and doesn’t get to start. I would say something else, but I can’t,” Varner said.

Born in Akron City Hospital, where James and Stephen Curry were delivered, Varner found a club seat for Game 3 of the NBA Finals between the Cavs and Curry’s Golden State Warriors. Varner was in town competing in the Rust-Oleum Championship at Lakewood Country Club. Varner said he was “livid,” when the Warriors took the series four games to two.

On Friday, Varner was trying to figure out how to catch part of Ohio State’s home game Saturday against Western Michigan in Ohio Stadium.

Beyond what golf has opened up for him in terms of attending sporting events, there is some urgency at this point in Varner’s career.

On Aug. 30, Varner wrapped up one of 25 spots on the PGA Tour for the 2015-16 season. Playing in the WinCo Foods Portland Open, Varner snuck in at No. 25 by a mere $943 to become the first African-American to earn his PGA card through the Web.com Tour. Twenty-five more players will qualify from the Web.com Tour on Oct. 4.

But getting his card does not assure Varner of a full slate of tournaments. He can help himself this weekend and next because money earned in the four playoff events is added to a player’s regular-season earnings and can improve his PGA Tour status. A top-three finish by Varner in the Nationwide or in the Web.com Tour Championship at TPC Sawgrass would eliminate some scheduling stress.

“That’s the ultimate goal, to try to get in as many events as possible in the fall,” Varner said.

Varner, 25, said achieving his goal of making the PGA Tour sunk in on the five-hour plane ride from Portland, Ore., to his residence in Jacksonville Beach, Fla. But now he realizes it’s time to play better. He ranked eighth this week in driving distance (313.4 yards) on the Web.com Tour, but knows that isn’t enough.

“My short game has gotten better,” he said. “Obviously I hit it well, but now I’m chipping and putting well and I can’t find the map.

“This just gives me an opportunity by having a card. Doesn’t give you any type of credit. The courses are really good out there. There are great golfers out there. I don’t think they’re that much better than me, so I’m looking forward to the challenge.”

Varner is coached by Bruce Suddath, pro emeritus at Gaston Country Club in Gastonia. His caddie for the past five months, Dale Vallely, said he played professionally for six years on the Canadian Tour and has spent the last five as a looper. Varner also remains close to Press McPhaul, his former college coach at East Carolina University, where Varner earned his marketing degree in 2012.

“I’m finding my way,” Varner said. “Everyone has their own course to run and I need to figure out my course. I know what I need to do to get better. I have the right people around me. I’m going to focus on that and get really good at golf. I’m going to enjoy every second of it.”

Vallely has seen improvement of late.

“He’s becoming more patient and realizing how to play the professional game instead of the amateur game. Figuring out what you need to do to play the best,” Vallely said. “He’s young. Giving him a little bit of advice is going to help him. I’ve seen a lot of good come out of Harold. We’re getting better every week.”

Varner said if there were one cut to miss it would be at OSU Scarlet because his sister Jatcie, 23, is getting married Saturday in Greensboro, N.C. While admitting the four finals events are big for his career, Varner coined a phrase from Manziel lore when considering the reception he must skip.

“I would wreck that party,” Varner said.

(c)2015 Akron Beacon Journal (Akron, Ohio)

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