LIVING HIS DREAMS WITH DAD FROM THE NCAA DOUBLE-A ZONE

May 16, 2008

LIVING HIS DREAMS WITH DAD FROM THE NCAA DOUBLE-A ZONE

Houston, TX (5/16/08) Logic says that Brian Mackey shouldn't be in Houston. But as we all know, in sports, logic doesn't mean a whole lot.

LIVING HIS DREAMS WITH DAD FROM THE NCAA DOUBLE-A ZONE

Courtesy of Josh of the NCAA

Houston, TX (5/16/08) Logic says that Brian Mackey shouldn't be in Houston. But as we all know, in sports, logic doesn't mean a whole lot.

A senior at Dominican, Mackey blew a five-stroke lead in the final round of the East/Northeast Super Regional last week and stood next to his ball on the 18th green, 75 feet from the hole, needing to sink the putt to force a playoff. Logic says Mackey should have missed the putt, but logic wasn't in New Castle, Delaware that day. Mackey sank the putt, won the playoff hole and earned an individual berth in the men's championship field.

Although his teammates aren't in Houston with him, Mackey does have a great deal of support - his dad Wayne is the head coach at Dominican and has been with him every step of the way at Memorial Park the past two days.

"You always think about this as an athlete - to be able to compete for your national championship. Being a senior and being here is just really special...it's kind of like riding off into the sunset," Brian said.

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Because none of his other players are in Houston, Coach Mackey doesn't have to think too much about which hat he's wearing - he's just enjoying the time with his son on Division II's grandest stage.

"To share this with your son is the ultimate," the elder Mackey said. "I've been blessed. Really blessed."

Through two rounds, Brian is 3-over par, good for 33rd overall. He's the first player from Dominican to ever compete in the national championship, and he doesn't care much for logic.

"It's every golfer's dream to cruise into the 18th hole with a 20-shot lead and you don't have anything to worry about, but I'm a big believer in everything happens for a reason. It came down to that last putt and it was meant to happen that way," Brian said.

Podcast: Listen to Coach Mackey describe the family adventure after Brian's second round.

The aim of Dominican University New York is to promote educational excellence, leadership, and service in an environment characterized by respect for the individual and concern for the community and its needs. Founded by the Dominican Sisters of Blauvelt, the university is an independent institution of higher learning, Catholic in origin and heritage. In the Dominican tradition, it fosters the active, shared pursuit of truth and embodies an ideal of education rooted in the values of reflective understanding and compassionate involvement. Committed to building its programs upon a strong foundation in the liberal arts and sciences, the university maintains a student-centered climate and serves a diverse community of students in undergraduate and graduate programs. The university empowers this community of learners to excel, lead and serve with integrity and to engage responsibly in the pursuit of a more just, ethical and sustainable world. Dominican also sponsors 18 varsity intercollegiate sports that compete at the NCAA Division II level. To learn more about Dominican University New York, please visit www.duny.edu.