Moving piano unintentional stroke of genius

Looking for a unique way to improve you golf game?

Try moving a piano.

Granted, it’s not something you’ll read in Golf Digest or see recommended on an instruction video. But it certainly worked for Colville’s Justin Hite, who has been on an unfathomable hot streak of late.

Within the last five weeks, the 21-year-old Hite has won two regional amateur championships and a couple of D.A. Davidson pro-am events. He has broken Jack Nicklaus’ course record at the Nicklaus-designed Old Works in Anaconda, Mont. And he has wowed the members at his home course, Dominion Meadows, by firing a 13-under-par 59 in the first round of his club championship.

“It’s been fun, lots of fun,” said Hite, the son of Dominion Meadows head professional Andy Hite. “People have really been talking me up. A few have even asked for my autograph.”

And Hite is quick to credit much of his recent success to his father – not because of some profound piece of advice concerning his golf swing, but for insisting he help move a piano to expedite a home remodeling project.

“My dad made me help move that piano,” Hite recalled, “and I hurt my back doing it. It stiffened up to where I couldn’t hit everything as hard as I used to, so I shortened up my swing and started hitting the ball shorter – and just as far.”

With his new abbreviated swing, Hite warmed up for the Dominion Meadows Amateur with a then course-record score of 10-under 62, and went on to shoot 68-68 and win the July 4th Weekend tournament. He later shot a 67 on his home course and a 64 at Wandermere Golf Course to finish as low net amateur in the D.A. Davidson Pro-Am tournaments held at those courses. And he won the Deer Park Amateur just last weekend.

In between, he flew with a friend of his father’s to Anaconda and, while playing from the back tees of the devilish 7,710-yard layout, shot a 3-under 69 that beat the previous course record of 70 set by Nicklaus.

“He’s been on a heckuva roll,” said his father. “His (GHIN) card looks pretty impressive right now.”

Fifteen of the last 20 scores Hite has posted have been in the 60s, with 10 of them at 67 or less.

Perhaps the most remarkable of his most recent achievements was the 13-under 59 he shot against Leon Hayes in the opening round of the Dominion Meadows men’s club match-play championship just more than a week ago.

“He was kickin’ butt. It was really something,” recalled Hayes, the men’s club president at Dominion Meadows. “First of all, he was just so consistent. He hit one bad tee shot all day, and he recovered from that and birdied the hole. There was no phase of his game that wasn’t working.”

The 65-year-old Hayes went into his match against Hite as a decided underdog. His 12 handicap was the highest in the championship flight, where competitors all play scratch.

“And Justin was a plus-4,” Hayes said. “I started teasing him – ‘Nervous? Hope you slept well last night.’ We were laughing about it.”

Then Hite went out and birdied six of the first eight holes of their match.

“Pretty soon, I’m checking his score card when he’s not looking and thinking, ‘Holy cow!’ ” Hayes explained. “You get caught up in it. And when he finished that first nine at 30, I started thinking, ‘This is really awesome.’ Pretty soon I was silently rooting for him.”

Hite closed Hayes out on the 11th hole, but the two played in just to see how low Hite could go.

“I shot 80 and lost by 21 strokes,” Hayes said in amazement.

At one point, Hite and Hayes played through another group and as they passed, Hayes nodded toward Hite and informed the other twosome, ‘If he pars the last three holes, he shoots 60.’ ”

Hite parred the first of those last three holes and then birdied the next, almost knocking in a short chip shot for an eagle on the 340-yard par-4.

“We both thought he had made it,” Hayes recalled.

With Hite needing only a par of the final hole – a tough, 187-yard par-3 – to break 60, even Hayes caved a bit.

“I couldn’t even watch his tee shot. I was too nervous,” Hayes admitted. “I couldn’t imagine the pressure he must have been feeling.”

But Hite calmly eased a 6-iron to within 15 feet of the pin, setting up a birdie putt for a potential 58.

While squatting to read his putt, Hite wondered aloud if, maybe, his dad wouldn’t like to watch him finish the round of his young life. And Hayes responded by racing off in his cart to the clubhouse to fetch Andy.

“That gave me even more time to pressure up,” said Hite, who proceeded to leave his putt on the lip and then tap in for his 59.

“It blows your mind,” Hayes said of Hite’s memorable round. “And the whole time, Justin was so polite and gracious. I’d knock my drive out there about 220 yards, and even though it was 80 short of his, he’d say, ‘Nice shot.’

“I can’t think of a more pleasurable round of golf that I’ve ever played. Not many people get to witness a 59.”

Hite, an solid high school golfer and two-year standout at Walla Walla Community College, spent last spring in Southern California working on his game and playing, as a amateur, on a couple of mini-tour events.

He plans to return later this fall and, perhaps, turn pro this winter.

“Dad suggested I try it, because I’ve been playing so well,” Hite said.

And for the personable young Hite, there is this added incentive:

If golf doesn’t work out, a furniture-moving career is not an option.