
Parker McLachin (left) and his just lately rediscovered Coronado bat, together with Scotty Cameron (middle) and Les Tamashiro.
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Justin thomas is not the one hawaii professional who enjoys a reunion with Scotty Cameron is a striker from his youth.
Parker MacLachlana former tour winner who now spends most of his time as an actor Brief sport coachAdditionally once more this week utilizing Scotty Cameron, his trusted Coronado Blade that is been lacking for 1 / 4 of a century.
“I simply stopped utilizing it my senior yr of faculty,” McLachlin, who’s within the area this week on the Sony Open for sponsor exemption, tells GOLF.com. “Someway I’ve misplaced observe of my racket and I can not discover it.”
McLachlan, 43, mentioned he did not suppose a lot of the racket till about 4 or 5 years in the past when he tried to search out the Outdated Believers. When McLachlin got here up empty, a former faculty roommate purchased him the same mannequin on eBay — however you realize what they are saying, a sequel isn’t pretty much as good as the unique.
Which brings us to this week in Honolulu.
However earlier than we get to the unlikely reunion, we should first clarify the again story of how McLacken first landed the bat.
McLachlin grew up in Hawaii. As a junior in highschool, he was getting ready for greens earlier than an occasion when he was approached by Hawaiian Titleist actor, “Uncle” Les Tamashiro.
Tamashiro, who had a popularity for looking for younger gamers and serving to them with their gear wants, thought it was time for McLacken to vary the racket.
“He got here watching me and I do not even keep in mind what I used to be placing within the bat on the time,” McLachin recalled. However he mentioned, ‘Hey, why do not you employ Scotty Cameron? ”
“I used to be like, ‘Nicely, you realize, my mother and father are faculty academics and I can not afford it. ”
He says, “I am going to inform you what, the highschool state championship subsequent month.” In case you go and end within the prime 5, my present to you, I am going to provide you with a Scotty Cameron bat.”
However McLachlin didn’t need any charity. He wished to earn the racket proper, which he guessed had him hashing at least $200 on the time.
So he bargained towards himself and advised Tamashiro he would solely take up a racket if he received the Hawaii state championship.
“He mentioned, ‘Nicely, you have bought a deal!'” McLachin mentioned. “And so I walked out a month later and received the state championship.”
The title didn’t come simply. McLachlin mentioned he opened with a 74, earlier than going deep on the second day at 66 at 40 mph.
“I believe the subsequent greatest rating of the day was 74 or 75,” mentioned McLachlan. “And so once I received the match, it offers me the choice of no matter racket I need, and I selected Scotty Cameron Coronado.”
The racquet remained in his bag by way of the remainder of highschool and into his senior yr of faculty. Then MacLachlan mentioned it just about disappeared.
McLachlin was nonetheless searching for the racquet when he got here house to Hawaii for this week’s Sony Open.
“I see Uncle Les on the golf course on Mondays and he says, ‘Hey, what are you gonna put [with] Lately? “You continue to have that Coronado I gave you almost 30 years in the past?” mentioned McLachin. And I used to be like, ‘No, I can not discover a Coronado. I do not know the place he’s. “
This made Tamashiro suppose.
“You realize, that is bizarre,” mentioned Tamashiro. “I believe I bought a Coronado in my storage, however I do not know the place it got here from. Let me test it out tonight.”
The putter was virtually actually McLachlin’s authentic Coronado, simply recognizable by the marginally shortened shaft and lead strip on the backside. Tamashiro guessed it may need been in his storage for 15 years.
“As a Titleist for years and years, I am certain he simply collected the hitters,” mentioned McLachlin. “He did not know why he was there.”
On Tuesday, Tamashiro introduced the racquet to McLachlin in Waialae, and the duo advised the entire story with Scotty Cameron himself, who’s in Hawaii this week for the occasion.
“[Cameron] I believe it was a very cool story,” mentioned MacLachlan. “And I believe listening to how individuals bought their first Scotty Cameron and the tales behind that, I believe it was actually cool for him to listen to.”
McLachlin has no plans to make use of that racquet this week — he has one other in his bag that will do honours — however he mentioned he loved sharing the complete second with Cameron himself.
“Giving me that racquet was form of my first begin within the Titleist household,” mentioned MacLachlan. “And simply realizing the place the entire journey takes us is superb.”