Fort Wayne Parks/PSM PeeWee Tour champs Liam & Callan Haire qualify for U.S. Kids World Championships
Two Fort Wayne brothers are set to tee off against some of the best boys golfers in the world at an upcoming tournament in Pinehurst, North Carolina.
Liam Haire, 7, and Callan Haire, 6, will compete August 4 through August 6 in the U.S. Kids Golf World Championships. The tournament features golfers ages 5 to 12 playing three rounds at historic Pinehurst Resort or other nearby championship courses.
“It’s a really big tournament,” Liam tells the Parkview Sports Medicine. “It was really fun meeting kids from around the world. From Japan, from Australia. There were kids that I was like, ‘Wow, that kid’s really good!’”
Liam, a second-grader at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic School, placed fourth in the world among boys 6 years old and younger a year ago—his first foray at worlds. His 105 (-3) was eight shots off the leader who shot an 11-under 97 at Midland Country Club.
The U.S. Kids Golf World Championships started in 2000; and more than 2,300 boys and girls from 50 countries compete in the tournaments annually, according to the foundation that runs the event. Prior to the competition, the kids will march in a parade of nations on August 2.
“Last spring, we kind of heard about the U.S. Kids Tour down in Indianapolis,” Tyler Haire, the boys’ father says. “We signed up for some tournaments down there. I think Liam played in five tournaments in the spring—or four—and won all of them. So, he qualified for it.” [Liam was quick to point out it was six tournaments that he won.]
Earlier this month, Liam shot back-to-back 21s on McMillen Park’s back-9 to claim his third-straight Fort Wayne Parks/Parkview Sports Medicine PeeWee Tour Championship for boys 8 to 9 (up an age group).
Golf is certainly a family sport for the Haires. Tyler was a standout golfer at Churubusco High School and IPFW. He won the Indiana Junior PGA Championship in 2005.
“My wife, Holly, and I met at a golf course. So, it all kind of started there,” Tyler adds. “We just got Liam and Callan into golf at a young age.”
Callan isn’t too far behind his older brother. He too won the PSM Tour Championship, outpacing the field of fellow 6- and 7-year-olds.
The summer of tournaments in Fort Wayne should prepare both boys for the international competition that is to come.
“I know it will be really fun for Callan,” Liam adds. “He went last year and saw what the golf course looked like, and I think he’ll play really well.”
“They’re both pretty good at all aspects of the game,” Tyler beams. “It’s fun, and they enjoy it. And I think that’s why they’ve thrived with it.”
Liam will compete for the 7-year-old boys world championship on the front 9 of Mid Pines, while Callan is in the boys 6 & under division playing at Midland Country Club. Tee times and results can be found here.
More information on the summertime Fort Wayne Parks/Parkview Sports Medicine PeeWee & Junior Golf Tours is available here.
written & produced by Eric Dutkiewicz, Aanyah Wright & Micah Hubley