Barron takes unusual path to title
WINNIPEG — From blue-chip baseball prospect to construction worker to the U.S. Open, Derek Barron didn’t take a well-worn path to the Players Cup in Winnipeg.
Perhaps that’s why the 34-year-old from Tacoma, Wash., seemed to cherish the trophy so much on the 18th green at Southwood Sunday.
The man who first picked up a golf club at 17 picked up his first professional tour victory, then told the crowd he was probably going to “freak out” a little later.
“It hasn’t happened at this level as much as I would like,” Barron told reporters later. “But, man, what a special day and a special feeling. In all honesty, it just affirms that I am doing the right thing in my life and my career path, and what I do every day. I wish there were words. It’s really special.”
Earlier in his life, Barron appeared to be on the trail his step-father took.
Tony Barron was a baseball player who made it all the way to the Montreal Expos lineup, via the minor-league Ottawa Lynx, in 1996.
But the younger Barron changed course as soon as he picked up a golf club in high school and belted his first drive some 250 yards, dead-straight.
“It’s not like I didn’t want to play baseball anymore,” he said. “I just got hooked on golf. I kind of liked the fact golf was just you and your thoughts.”
At that point, Barron wasn’t good enough to play in college, so he just played for fun.
Sunday was a lot of fun, as he withstood a stiff breeze to shoot an even-par 72, finishing two strokes ahead of 22-year-old rookie Kyler Dunkle and Ryan Snouffer, 25.
Barron had been tied for second, two strokes behind leader Brad Miller when the day began.
“It’s not like I’m the guy that’s been doing this since he’s 21, trying to play as a pro,” Barron said. “I was remodelling apartments when I was 21, and playing amateur golf. And so, yeah, my path has been a lot different to this point.
“I’m a testament to hard work and not giving up.”
By his late twenties, Barron was starting to shoot the lights out, and when people offered to sponsor him as a pro, he traded in his tools and turned pro in 2012.
Two years ago, he won a sectional qualifier for the U.S. Open on his home course, firing a two-under 70 in his first round at the Open.
The wind shifted and he followed with an 83, but went home knowing he’d found his dream job.
“It was my first taste of the big time,” Barron said. “Oddly enough I felt more comfortable in that atmosphere than some of the Web events I’ve played in. It was like ‘This is where you want to be, and this is where you should be.’”
Two years later, on a wind-swept course in south Winnipeg, he received some much-need affirmation.
“Whether it fits in the timeline that I have in my head, the ideal timeline — I know now that I probably just have to let it happen,” he said.
With a wife and nine-monthold son at home, it hasn’t always been easy to chase that dream. There are bills to pay, after all.
Sunday, cradling that trophy after the most enjoyable threeputt he’s ever made — there was also a $36,000 cheque to come — made it worth it.
As for the roundabout way he got there, Barron isn’t secondguessing any of it.
“I’m glad. I’ve got more scar tissue from life. Until you get to the top, you’re saving and scrimping, and you need help usually from people. I’m fortunate enough to have a lot of people that believe in me and are helping me. It’s an amazing day.”