Albertsons Boise Open Honors Veteran

Yesterday I had the honor of playing in the Albertsons Boise Open Media Day. I say 'honor' not because of what happened on the course but rather what happened off it. Each year Albertsons is able to have two sponsor exemptions and are able to use those to invite top players from around the state to play in the tournament. This year they used those two spots to invite Graysen Huff.

Graysen Huff, a senior at Cole Valley Christian School in Boise, is the reigning Pacific Northwest Golf Association Junior Player of Year and Idaho Junior Player of the Year. He has competed in the Australian Amateur, British Boys Amateur, and the Junior PGA Championship, and plans to play in the U.S. Junior Amateur in late July. Huff, who will also have plenty of support from his teammates and the local community, has signed to play golf with collegiate golf power Auburn University starting this fall. Credit/Boise Open

Also. Caldwell native and Army veteran Corporal Chad Pfeifer.

Cpl. Pfeifer, who graduated from Vallivue High School, will make history at the Albertsons Boise Open in July as he will become the first ever amputee to participate in a Web.com Tour event. Cpl. Pfeifer, 33, lost his left leg above the knee in April of 2007 when a roadside bomb exploded while he was on patrol in Iraq. He learned the game while rehabbing in an Army hospital, and golf became a major part of his healing process. He quickly became a playing professional competing in Gateway Tour and eGolf Tour events. Nicknamed “Corporal Clutch” from his appearance on Golf Channel’s The Big Break, Cpl. Pfeifer was invited to play in last July’s American Century Championship at Lake Tahoe. He was in a field of 80 professional athletes and entertainers competing for $600,000 in prize money, and finished tied for fifth place. Cpl. Pfeifer will have the support of the local military community at Hillcrest, and expect some large roars when he makes his way through the 16th hole, where the Patriots’ Outpost hospitality area will be located. Credit/Boise Open

If you're not familiar with the story of Cpl. Pfeifer, the Golf Channel did a great piece on him and how golf has helped him.