The Providence Journal

On the Links by Paul Kenyon: Franco's brothers to play

     Some Rhode Islanders have the wrong impression of life as a professional golfer. They see the incredible success of the state's players and they assume that it's easy, never mind enjoyable, and lucrative, too.

      Why not? Brad Faxon and Billy Andrade have had fabulous careers, going straight from All-American success in college to the PGA Tour. The money they've made is counted in millions.

Brett Quigley and Patrick Sheehan had to work a bit harder, especially Sheehan, but they have established themselves in the big-time, too. Then there's Dana Quigley on the Champions Tour. Patrick Horgan, Jim Hallet and Eddie Kirby all had time on the big tour.

      How hard can it be if so many players from the smallest state in the nation can do so well?

      Anyone who would like to see the reality, see how incredibly difficult it is to get where Faxon, Andrade and the others are, need only visit Cranston Country Club this week. Mike Capone, Joey Iaciofano, Jon Drumm and nearly 70 others will take part in the $62,000 Cranston Open, the fifth in a 10-event schedule for the Cleveland Golf Tour.

      The golf will be hard to differentiate from what the fans see on television.

      "There's such a fine line between the players on the PGA Tour and our players physically. It's more the mental part of it," said Brian Hebb, who is both the organizer of the tour, formerly called the New England Pro Tour, and one of its competitors.

       "I think what it comes down to is having the experience competing in events like we have," Hebb said. "I've competed in about 10 PGA Tour pro-ams and I saw for myself, playing with those guys, that there isn't a lot of difference."

      Hebb, who is a Cape Cod real estate developer, organized the tour in part for personal reasons. He hopes to play on the Champions Tour.

      "That's what I'm trying to do. I'm 48. Next year I will be able to go to the Champions Tour qualifying School," Hebb said. "I'm using this as a springboard for myself personally. But that's not my main motivation.

      "My main motivation is that there was a void in the Northeast for professional golf. Look all over New England and you see where minor-league baseball is flourishing. We're minor-league golf. Last week, you saw where the Red Sox called up a guy (Abe Alvarez) from Double-A. That's how close those guys are to making it. That's how close our guys are, too.

      "We have Geoff Sisk who has played in four U.S. Opens. He finished 40th at Shinnecock this year. Every week we have players who Monday qualify for the Nationwide Tour. Last week, Eli Zackheim did it. Billy Link Monday qualified for the PGA Tour's BC Open. Last week, Jesse Fitzgerald from our tour won the Met Section Open in New York and that's one of the toughest sections to compete in in the country. Jim Hallet plays with us and he spent seven years on the PGA Tour.

      "Our guys are winning State Opens and Monday qualifying every week. John Curley and Paul Dickinson were playing Nationwide. Paul Dickinson lost his status and he came back to play with us because he said he thought we had the best mini-tour going."

      The difference is that the players on the Cleveland Tour put up their own money, $900 for each event, to compete. All the money goes into the pot and is returned to the winners.

      Hebb had been paying for organizational expenses. His burden was reduced this year when he signed a contract with Cleveland Golf to be title sponsor. Cleveland now pays 40 percent of the expenses and has brought added stability and prestige to the tour, Hebb said.

      "We have four private clubs on our schedule this year, for the first time ever," Hebb said. "And we're playing two resort courses. We're getting better all the time."

      The tournament at Cranston will have a little added touch for Rhode Islanders who watched the U.S. Bank Championship in Milwaukee last weekend, won by Paraguay's Carlos Franco who beat Brett Quigley, Sheehan and Andrade for the title.

      Two of Franco's brothers, Ramon and Angel, will be competing at Cranston.

      "This is their first with us," Hebb said. "I got a call from their agent who asked if they could play. I told them we'd love to have them as long as they don't have status on the PGA or Nationwide tours. They don't, so they're coming here."