Teammates for Life

Most coaches consider it a luxury to have brothers on the same team for a year, but being able to have them for multiple years is the type of thing most coaches dream about. For the second year in a row, the Saint Martin’s University men’s golf team has had that bonus because of two individuals on their roster; the Whealdon brothers. Jack and Patrick Whealdon hail from a small fishing community on the coast of Washington from a town called Ilwaco. Although this isn’t the ideal hot spot for golf fans with its normally cold, rainy weather; it is however the home to one of the most successful boy’s golf traditions in the state.



 

Ilwaco High School is known for its golf team because of the time and dedication these two individuals have put into the program. Between the two of them, their teams at state combined to finish 1st four times, 2nd twice, and 4th twice. Individually at state, Jack placed 15^th as a freshman and second three straight years as a sophomore, junior, and senior. Patrick finished his career with a fifth, a fourth, and a 10^th place finish respectfully. Both Whealdon brothers also competed within the Washington State Juniors Golfing Association, which both Jack and Patrick noted was “better competition, which prepared them to play in college.”


After completing two years of college golf, Jack talked Patrick into continuing their golf careers together at SMU. Even with other offers from different universities on the table, Patrick decided that SMU was the best fit for him.

“I was definitely excited to team up with Jack again because there is a level of comfort knowing that your older brother is here,” Patrick said.

Jack agreed, “I was pretty happy that Patrick chose to come to Saint Martin’s.”

But this journey has been anything but a walk in the park for these two; I mean walk down the course. The brothers have some of the most competitive attitudes and mentalities around.

“In high school, we were pretty competitive. We went at each other pretty hard for that number one spot,” noted Patrick.

Although older Brother Jack jokingly added “Let’s make one thing clear, I was number one a majority of the time in high school.”

Even when the brothers were younger than high school they claimed to have some pretty intense drive-way basketball games with some friends. On one occasion, it even resulted in a broken toe for Jack (which Patrick chuckled about). One of the games they played was what they called “tackle basketball.” When Jack brought this up, you could tell that they had enjoyed some fun times together by the look they gave one another. 

When asked how much they root for one another to succeed, Jack said that he loves seeing Patrick do well. “I just wish we would do well more often than we already are.”

Golf for the most part is an individual sport; however, the two still would root for one another to do well.  A golfer’s main strategy on the course is to stay focused and do the best they can, while beating everyone else out there.

“You’re out there as an individual, but if the team does well, that’s even better too,” the eldest Whealdon went on to say. “If one of those guys on the team is your younger brother, well then that’s just a bonus.”

“Even though we are competing for the same spots, I don’t get upset if he gets it over me,” Patrick added

The clock is ticking however for the two teammates in Saint’s polo’s going into this week’s Great Northwest Athletic Conference Championships in Idaho, as Jack will be graduating in May with a degree in business. Who knows, a couple good rounds between the two could ultimately result in them qualifying for the West/Central Regional Championships two weeks later.

Regardless of if the two don’t qualify for either of these two tournaments, it won’t be the end of their golfing journey together.

“Even if we don’t make it, I know we will get the opportunity to play together a bunch more times in tournaments down the road,” Jack said. “But just knowing that no matter happens this won’t be the last one we’re together is reassuring.”

Whatever the outcome is within these last few rounds together, the two will still have plenty of opportunities to compete against and with one another on the links. I guess you could say they will be teammates for life.