2008 Woodie Awards
Golfer given mulligan on lifelong dream
By: Matt Grover
Issue date: 3/22/07 Section: Sports
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One year ago, junior Jason Sullivan was prepared to accept a job as a Web site designer. Then his phone rang.
On the other end was Webster's Associate Golf Coach Tom Heyer. Heyer called Sullivan with a proposal.
For Sullivan, 24, Heyer's call represented a second chance.
In 2001, Sullivan graduated from Webster Groves High School. He lettered in football and basketball, but was most successful at golf - where he was team captain. It was at Webster Groves where Heyer first discovered Sullivan. Sullivan, then a high-school senior, was a teammate of Heyer's son Luke, a Webster Groves High School freshman.
"I didn't really know him," Heyer said. "But I remember him being a really good golfer."
After high school, Sullivan moved his golf game to Coastal Carolina University in South Carolina. Sullivan's stay proved to be brief as he fell short of making Coastal Carolina's golf team.
"Coastal Carolina is a very competitive (NCAA) Division-I school," Sullivan said. "Basically, 50 guys tried out for one spot. I wasn't the one spot."
With no reason to stay in South Carolina, Sullivan moved back to St. Louis and began taking classes sporadically at St. Louis Community College-Meramec. Sullivan's dream of having a career in golf dwindled until Heyer called him in April 2006.
"After (Sullivan) and I talked we worked through (Webster Compliance Coordinator) Jayme Callahan and figured out he had eligibility left and he was ready to come back to school," Heyer said.
With a fallen dream now within his grasp, Sullivan was ready to join the Gorloks and make up for lost time. However, he quickly found himself in a sand trap.
Shortly after leaving Coastal Carolina, Sullivan attempted to qualify for several professional tournaments. As a result, Sullivan forfeited his NCAA amateur status. According to the NCAA, if an athlete participates in a professional sport, that athlete can lose their amateur status and eligibility to compete in collegiate sports.
On the other end was Webster's Associate Golf Coach Tom Heyer. Heyer called Sullivan with a proposal.
For Sullivan, 24, Heyer's call represented a second chance.
In 2001, Sullivan graduated from Webster Groves High School. He lettered in football and basketball, but was most successful at golf - where he was team captain. It was at Webster Groves where Heyer first discovered Sullivan. Sullivan, then a high-school senior, was a teammate of Heyer's son Luke, a Webster Groves High School freshman.
"I didn't really know him," Heyer said. "But I remember him being a really good golfer."
After high school, Sullivan moved his golf game to Coastal Carolina University in South Carolina. Sullivan's stay proved to be brief as he fell short of making Coastal Carolina's golf team.
"Coastal Carolina is a very competitive (NCAA) Division-I school," Sullivan said. "Basically, 50 guys tried out for one spot. I wasn't the one spot."
With no reason to stay in South Carolina, Sullivan moved back to St. Louis and began taking classes sporadically at St. Louis Community College-Meramec. Sullivan's dream of having a career in golf dwindled until Heyer called him in April 2006.
"After (Sullivan) and I talked we worked through (Webster Compliance Coordinator) Jayme Callahan and figured out he had eligibility left and he was ready to come back to school," Heyer said.
With a fallen dream now within his grasp, Sullivan was ready to join the Gorloks and make up for lost time. However, he quickly found himself in a sand trap.
Shortly after leaving Coastal Carolina, Sullivan attempted to qualify for several professional tournaments. As a result, Sullivan forfeited his NCAA amateur status. According to the NCAA, if an athlete participates in a professional sport, that athlete can lose their amateur status and eligibility to compete in collegiate sports.
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