D.J. Honan of Falmouth remembers watching his friend A.J. Simonkaitis and his improved golf swing.

“His swing looked 10 times better,” said Honan.

Honan, a Cheverus High golfer at the time, wanted to know how Simonkaitis had done it. Simonkaitis told Honan he had attended the Hank Haney International Junior Golf Academy in Hilton Head, S.C.

Honan wanted to play golf in college but didn’t know where at the time. By his senior season, Mount St. Mary’s University in Maryland had offered Honan a spot on its golf team. But after listening to Simonkaitis, Honan thought he might like to spend a postgraduate year at Hank Haney’s golf academy.

Honan was able to take advantage of the opportunity this school year, and his golf game, like his friend’s, has improved.

“I was looking to improve my game and get some recognition,” said Honan. “Maine golfers don’t get much recognition out of high school.”

The school was established by Haney, one of the world’s top golf instructors, who was Tiger Woods’ instructor until a little more a year ago.

Honan takes college courses at the nearby University of South Carolina-Beaufort campus Mondays through Fridays. They will be transferrable when he attends college in the fall.

Honan goes to school in the morning, then heads to practice in the afternoon, followed by nine holes. The weekends are reserved for tournaments.

Last fall, Haney and his golf instructors overhauled Honan’s swing. It’s taken him several months to feel comfortable with it.

“I had kind of a homemade swing,” said Honan. “They made it more conventional. I can hit it a lot straighter. I haven’t been above 78 for a while. It’s been a real breakthrough.”

Last weekend, Honan put his new swing to work and won an International Junior Golf Tournament in Hershey, Pa. Honan shot rounds of 71-74-145 to win by one shot in the 15-to-19 age division.

Honan has played in 11 tournaments since September. Prior to his win, his best finishes were a fourth and a tie for seventh.

In high school, Honan finished second in the Class A individual tournament his senior year. At 17, he won the Portland Country Club championship, the youngest winner in club history.

“It felt good to win again,” said Honan. “It was a good field. There were a lot of good local players from Philadelphia. I just got hot. It was definitely my putting. I didn’t get ahead of myself and felt my focus was one shot at a time.”

After taking a double bogey on the 17th hole, Honan needed a par on the par-5 18th at the Hershey Links Golf Club to win.

“I was definitely nervous on the 18th tee,” he said.

After popping up his drive and not hitting a very good second shot, Honan recovered to knock his third shot on the green and two-putted from 14 feet.

In the fall and early this year, Honan’s confidence wavered and he wondered if he was still capable of shooting low scores in competition.

He got his answer in Hershey.

Being from Maine and used to playing in cold weather, Honan said he felt the conditions during the tournament favored him.

“It snowed during one practice round and sleeted in another. It was in the low 40s for the first round and only a little better for Sunday. The other players were complaining but everyone has to play in the same conditions,” said Honan.

The victory qualified Honan for the Bridgestone Tournament of Champions on May 28-30 at Grand Cypress Resort in Orlando, Fla.

Honan said he has worked with Haney “eight or 10 times.”

“Hank is here once a month. He knows me personally. After my win he gave me a bunch of compliments,” said Honan.

Honan said he’s considering scholarship offers from Towson (Md.) University and Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Conn.

He said he doesn’t want to commit too early because there’s a chance more opportunities could come if he continues to play well.

Honan hopes to play in the Maine Amateur in July, which is scheduled to be played on his home course. 

Staff Writer Tom Chard can be reached at 791-6419 or at tchard@pressherald.com

 

Copy the Story Link