From the sidelines

A 35-year-old PGA ‘rookie’

By Shannon Russell ’98

Last year Brad Adamonis ’96 began to reconsider a professional golfing career.

He’d competed on the Nationwide Tour for five years, met his wife, Stacey, settled down, and had two children. Playing on the PGA Tour had always been his dream, but he began to question its reality.

Adamonis gave the PGA Tour Qualifying School one last shot. In December, he finished in a tie for ninth place — and became one of just 26 players in the final-stage field of 166 to earn his PGA Tour Card for the 2008 season.

“It was pretty awesome,” said Adamonis, 35, of Fort Lauderdale, Fla. “I’ve been playing golf my whole life and never achieved anything like that.”

He is the second former Miami golfer to earn his card. Bob Lohr ’83 was the first.

Adamonis joked that it’s uncommon to see a 35-year-old rookie out there, but he wouldn’t trade his journey for anything. He has played in 49 states (everywhere but Alaska) and 20 countries.

By the time his child, Grace, was a year old, she’d been to 38 states herself. Grace, 2, has been joined by baby brother Nicholas.

But spending more time with family required fewer hours on the golf course, and Nationwide Tour travel meant 30 to 32 weeks away each year. Now that he’s on the most lucrative tour, he hopes to trim his travel time to 22 weeks.

Adamonis wrapped up 2007 by placing 33rd on the Nationwide Tour’s money list ($169,146) and winning his first career tournament, the WNB Golf Classic in Texas.

After earning his card, he made six cuts in his first eight PGA tournaments and tied for 32nd in January’s Sony Open in Hawaii.

He said he’s still not accustomed to the tour’s larger stage, like the 10,000 spectators at January’s Buick Open in San Diego. Then again, he was playing right behind Tiger Woods.

Adamonis has been paired with such golfers as Sergio Garcia, Jesper Parnevik, and Justin Leonard so far. He’s anxious to see what’s next.

“It’s great doing something you love to do while being able to travel and meet people."

Women take the MAC

Miami’s women’s basketball swept through the Mid-American Conference Tournament in March, beating Ohio University to capture their first MAC Tournament since 1982 and first-ever NCAA Tournament berth.