Drew Kane of Scarborough, one of southern Maine’s best high school golfers, was volunteering on the practice range of the Deutsche Bank Classic at TPC of Boston two weeks ago.

Kane’s job was to place the golfer’s nameplate and keep a good supply of practice balls coming.

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Drew Kane, a junior at Scarborough High, is a golf junkie. “He eats, sleeps and drinks golf,” said Red Storm Coach Mike Murphy. Shawn Patrick Ouellette/Staff Photographer

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The world’s No. 1 player, Rory McIlroy, stood 4 feet away.

“It was fun watching him hit because he never missed a shot. I wished him good luck in the tournament,” said Kane, who got an autograph from this year’s British Open and PGA champion.

Asked what other golfers he took care of on the range, Kane rattled off “Phil, Ricky and Bubba.”

Last names were not required.

Kane, 16, a junior, has won both of his matches this fall, shooting 37 each time. He is a contender for the Class A individual title in October and could lead Scarborough High into the state team playoffs.

At 5-foot-4, 120 pounds, Kane is a perfect example that size is not a prerequisite for success in golf. While golfers on the PGA Tour are bigger overall than they were 40 years ago, so are athletes in every other sport. Rather than size, one of the keys to success is immersion in the sport. And Kane has certainly done that.

“If there’s something to do with golf, Drew is completely into it,” said his father, Dave.

Drew Kane practices six days a week during the summer, working on a different part of his game each day. He’ll sneak in a round or two, maybe three or four during the week.

On Saturdays, he caddies 18 holes at the Portland Country Club in Falmouth then plays at Nonesuch River Golf Course in Scarborough, where he is a member. Kane is a frequent visitor to the Golf and Ski Warehouse in Scarborough where he talks with employee Matt Greenleaf, one of the state’s top golfers. During the winter, Kane keeps his swing loose in one of the hitting bays. Kane caddied for Greenleaf at the 2013 Maine Amateur at the Augusta Country Club. Greenleaf returned the favor as he caddied for Kane in June as Kane tried for qualify for this summer’s Maine Amateur. Kane missed in a match of cards for the tiebreaker.

“I don’t think there’s too many kids more into the game than Drew,” said Scarborough Coach Mike Murphy. “He eats, sleeps and drinks golf.”

That’s good news for the Red Storm. Scarborough has a well-balanced team that includes Kane’s cousins, Braeden and Brogan.

Kane made a leap of progress from his freshman to sophomore seasons. He played in one match his freshman year and played in every match last season.

“Drew has a great swing,” said Murphy. “He’s added more length.”

In August, Kane finished third in the Maine Junior Amateur in the 15-to-17 age division. He shot 76-72–148 at Val Halla Golf Course in Cumberland. His 72 was the low score on the second day. That performance earned him a spot on Maine’s team in the New England Juniors, played in Seekonk, Massachusetts, where he had rounds of 80-75-81–236.

Kane said he compensates for his lack of length off the tee with accuracy. He rarely misses a fairway. Not surprisingly, his strength is his short game.

Kane played hockey on Scarborough’s freshman team two years ago. He didn’t play last year, fearing his lack of size would be a detriment, but is thinking about playing this winter.

“You can’t do much with golf in the winter around here,” he said.

Kane started playing golf with his dad when he was 8. He said he didn’t like it at first and gave it up before picking it up again when he was 11.

“I got better and liked it,” he said.

Kane has been devoted ever since.

“Golf is fun and I like the fact that it’s an individual sport,” he said. “When you don’t play well, you only have yourself to blame.”

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