Virginia Tech community will be on Weaver’s mind at Masters

By AP National Writer

With his school’s logo on his shirt, cap and golf bag, Drew Weaver looks a lot like all those other college kids who’ve been lucky enough to earn a spot at the Masters over the years.

Except Weaver plays for Virginia Tech, and proudly representing his school has taken on a whole new meaning in the last year.

“With everything that’s happened, I’m more than happy to wear the logo and try to put a positive reputation for the university out there,” he said Monday. “Every time that I go out with a Virginia Tech logo on my bag or my shirt or my hat, I’m going to be playing for all of our students and our faculty and everybody involved with the university.

“Obviously, those who passed on April 16 last year are going to be right in the forefront of who I’ll be playing for.”

It was last April 16 that a student opened fire in a classroom building on the Virginia Tech campus, killing 32 students and faculty members before killing himself. One of the victims, Ryan Clark, was from Martinez, Ga., a suburb of Augusta.

Weaver, who would have been in a class in that very building at the same time the next day, was in an accounting class about 100 yards away when the shootings occurred. He and a teammate were leaving their building when they heard gunshots.

“It was a terrifying few seconds,” he said. “We couldn’t really tell where the shots were coming from. We had a general idea, but we didn’t know if they were coming towards us. It was just one of those natural instincts to get as far away as possible, and that’s what we did.

“Is it something that I think about every day? … I’d say it doesn’t necessarily come into my thoughts every day, but it’s definitely very frequent,” Weaver said. “Everywhere you go, people ask how the university is doing, and that’s great. We appreciate the support, but it is tough to relive the memories.”

But he’ll do it, if only so those who were killed aren’t forgotten.

He wore the Virginia Tech logo and colors last summer, when he played in the British Open after a surprising victory at the British Amateur. Weaver was the first U.S. player to win the British Amateur since Jay Sigel in 1979. No American had even made the final since 1983.

As the British Amateur champion, he also earned a spot at Augusta.

“My whole summer was a blur, looking back at it. I didn’t really have that much time to think about going to the British Open and playing in it, but this is different,” Weaver said. “It’s just such an incredible week and I just can’t believe – I still can’t believe that I’m actually a part of it and playing in it.”

Weaver had played Augusta National 13 times before Monday’s practice round, enough to make him feel “at home.” He even gave Johnson Wagner a few pointers. Wagner, a Virginia Tech alum, clinched a spot at the Masters on Sunday with his victory at the Houston Open.

No amateur has made the cut the last two years. But Weaver hopes he has the game – and the patience – to end that trend.

“You see a lot of guys get impatient and make a bogey or two and end up blowing up,” he said. “I want to stay patient because I know I have the game.”

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