Conway itching for the big-time tour

BRYCE ALDERTON

A few Tuesdays back, Steve Conway drove from Newport

Beach to Mission Viejo Country Club for a practice session only to

find, upon arrival, that he couldn’t golf there that day.

The greens appeared as if freshly fallen snow covered them.

Actually, a layer of sand covered the greens after the annual

spring rite of punching holes in the ground to help grass grow.

Course maintenance seems the only way to halt, if even for a day

or afternoon, Conway’s dedication and drive in a sport he hopes to

make into a full-time profession.

That day may not be too far away.

Conway has a little less than six weeks remaining in his final

semester at UCLA, where he will likely graduate with a degree in

sociology in June.

His golf game also went to the head of the class during his Bruin

career.

Conway, 23, spent four years on the team, capping his senior

season by helping the Bruins to a second-place finish at the NCAA

championships after tallying their second straight west regional

title.

He completed his final year of eligibility last spring, but

occasionally assists head man O.D. Vincent with this year’s squad,

which finished fourth at the Pac-10 championships last month.

Call this time the calm before the storm.

Conway, who calls Newport Beach home when he isn’t attending

school or traveling to golf tournaments, eyes December, when he will

test his game against stern competition at PGA Tour qualifying

school.

Many golfers dream of qualifying for the PGA Tour.

Simply qualifying for the your is an accomplishment.

Staying on the tour is a whole other matter.

But first things first.

Conway spent most of last summer following a rigorous schedule

that took him to tournament after tournament every week.

Those events offered a first-hand glimpse of what professional

golfers go through.

He played an international invitational tournament with former

UCLA teammate Roy Moon at Lake MacQuarie in Belmont, Australia, in

January, but trimmed his schedule to focus on schoolwork.

Conway and Moon were chosen to represent the United States in the

tournament against teams from Ireland, Spain, Germany and Korea. The

tournament was a qualifier for the Australian national team.

His schedule figures to fill up with golf come June. Conway plans

to compete in qualifiers and mini-tour events to hone his game for

the big-time.

As a youth, Conway, the older brother of Carolyn Conway, a former

All-CIF girls water polo player at Newport Harbor now playing at

Indiana University, spent hordes of hours on the driving range at

Mission Viejo Country Club. He occasionally had to be asked to leave

with darkness looming.

“I love to practice,” said the blond-haired Conway, who enjoys

surfing when he isn’t on the course.

He said the surfing in Australia was amazing.

European Tour professional Ray Carrasco, who teaches

part time at Pelican Hill Golf Club in Newport Coast, started

working with Conway when he was 9. Conway went on to star at Santa

Margarita High.

Carrasco coached several Eagles, but said Conway is an exception.

“Sooner or later, he’ll be on tour,” Carrasco said. “He definitely

has the game and has the experience. He loves it so much.”

Last summer Conway finished third in the Southern California

Amateur championship and made his third trip to the prestigious U.S.

Amateur.

Conway feels comfortable about his swing and prefers to keep it

simple.

“There’s some progress with the swing,” Conway said. “I’ve made

some minor changes, mostly mental, preparing myself [for Q School]. I

have confidence seeing some of my friends turn pro.”

That list includes Hunter Mahan and Kevin Na. Na has finished

second in two PGA Tour events in 2005 while Mahan’s best is a tie for

ninth.

He will concentrate on earning his degree, then dive into a steady

diet of golf.

There is also the task of recruiting sponsors.

“I’m really itching, I can’t wait to get out there and into it,”

Conway said.

If he doesn’t qualify for the big tour this year, no worries.

There’s always next year.

Conway realizes the first time might not be so charming.

He is ready to deal with it.

Much like he did that Tuesday a few weeks back.

There’s always tomorrow, with smoother, and better greens.