By Brian Stanley

Contributing Writer

Santa Ynez Valley Union High School senior golfer Callaway Winans spent the summer clubbing on the links, competing across Southern California.

Fresh off a second-place finish in the Team Gross category at the Alisal Round Up to close out the month of August, Winans teamed up with his father Chad Winans for the first time at the Round Up.

“It was awesome,” Winans said about playing alongside his dad. “I’ve been playing with my dad since I was little. I’ve been waiting for years to play in this tournament because I’m old enough now that I’m 18. It was a great time.”

Santa Ynez Valley Union High School senior golfer Callaway Winans and his dad Chad Winans spent the summer clubbing on the links, competing across Southern California.
Photo contributed

On the first day of the 2-day, 36-hole tournament Winans shot a 5-over 77 round at Alisal Ranch Course in Solvang. He bounced back in the second day of action shooting 2-under-par on the Par 72 course.

“I’m so proud of Callaway for representing our Pirates well,” said Ashley Coelho, Santa Ynez Valley Union High School athletics director. I love that he never stopped grinding even though he was cut short his spring high school golf season. He is an incredible leader, athlete and, most importantly, student,”

Winans putted for 5 birdies on the second, sixth, 10th, 12th and 13th holes on his way to 2-under for day 2 of the tournament. Chad Winans shot an 80-75 on day 1 and 2, respectively.

“I would also just like to say thank you to Dave Hartley and the guys at the Alisal and especially to my dad for all the countless hours of playing with me, encouragement and coaching over the years. I’m so blessed,” Winans said.

The father-son duo finished with a team gross score of 138, shooting 71 on the first 18 holes and 67 on the second 18. Teaming up with his dad wasn’t the only first-time pairing for Winans on the golf course this summer.

Joined by his golf swing coach Ryan Kennedy, Winans captured a first-place finish in the Southern California PGA Northern Chapter Pro-Junior 18-Hole Best Ball Tournament at Rustic Canyon Golf Course in Moorpark on July 13.

“It was super fun. Obviously, I was pretty nervous because he is my coach,” Winans said. “Kennedy has been my coach for three years, so I wanted to impress.”

A three-year Santa Ynez boys varsity golf member, Winans teed off from the blue tees as Kennedy got underway from the black tees. The tandem golfers combined for a team score 8-under-par.

Winans broke par three times in the team victory, sinking birdies on the par-4 second hole, and par-5 10th and 13th holes.

Kennedy collected five birdies on the par-72 course, finishing at the top of the Pro Individual leaderboard with a 4-under-par.

The following day, Winans shot 3-over-par on the par-70 course, finishing tied for 12th on the leaderboard in the opening round of the Ventura County Junior Golf Association 45th Titleist Match Play Championship at Buenaventura Golf Course.

“It was a really cool experience playing against all of them,” Winans said. “I was impressed that I was able to perform.”

Entering match play, Winans faced off against Gavin Jennings, of Calabasas. Winans built a five-hole lead over Jennings, giving the Santa Ynez Pirate the win after the 14^th hole played.

Winans went the full 18 to defeat challenger Giancarlo Sacco, of Bakersfield, in the second round, moving on with a one-hole advantage over Sacco. Winans finished his quarterfinal match on the 17th hole, knocking off Ricky Reisner, of Valencia.

After three match play wins, Winans challenged Griffin Feldman, of Encino, in the semifinals. He lost to Feldman by three holes after the 16th green. A UC Santa Barbara golf recruit, Feldman blazed his way to the podium in the championship round with a six-hole victory over San Marcos High School sophomore Leo Metzger.

“I know what level of golfer Feldman is and it was fun competing against him because he’s a Division I recruit,” Winans said. “It’s nice to be in the same category as him.”

Winans’ focus will remain on competing in tournaments across Southern California for the remainder of 2020, as he awaits the tee-off of his senior golf season with the Pirates next spring.

“My goal is to play at the collegiate level,” he said. “I’m in contact with a couple college coaches about that.”