Plainville's Renner tearing up the links
Seven years ago, 17-year-old Jim Renner became the youngest golfer to reach the finals of the Massachusetts Amateur Championship.
With three consecutive victories on the New England circuit this spring, including last week's triumph in the Massachusetts Open at Stockbridge Golf Club, the Plainville native continues to make headlines as a pro.
In late May, Renner won the Cape Cod Open in a playoff. And earlier this month, he ran away with the Vermont Open when he recorded rounds of 62-62-69 at the 54-hole tournament.
He was tied for the Mass. Open lead after two rounds, then left the field in the dust on Wednesday with a 5-under-par, bogey-free 65 to finish 6 under for the tournament. This week, he will defend his TD Banknorth Portland Open title in Maine.
Renner has also had his share of disappointments - by the narrowest of margins.
He was one stroke shy of advancing to the fifth and final stage of the PGA Tour Qualifying School last fall, which would have automatically qualified him for the Nationwide Tour (the PGA's developmental circuit) this season. A single stroke - again - kept Renner from qualifying for this year's US Open.
Renner also had to deal with inflamed tendons and torn cartilage in his wrist. "Surgery may be an option," he said, "but cortisone has helped, and the injury has not limited my tournament appearances."
He is modest about his successes and realistic about his near-misses.
"Missing the final stage of Q School was especially tough to swallow," said Renner, who turned pro 15 months ago. "But I know I have it in me to play at a high level. If there's one thing I've especially learned, it's to be patient, because I haven't yet reached my potential. But I feel I'm starting to play golf the way I should be playing."
The Vermont Open, held at Lake Morey Country Club, was a confidence builder for Renner, who won by 11 strokes and tied the tournament record of 17 under par. His pair of 62s were the best back-to-back rounds of his life.
Renner learned the game as a youngster at Foxborough Country Club, playing alongside his father, John, a former Attleboro Open champ.
They have also won the Mass. Golf Association's Father-Son Championship. Renner has refined his skills with head pro Drew Chapman at Highland Country Club in Attleboro, where he holds the course record, a 9-under 61.
"Jim is an excellent ball striker to begin with," said Chapman, who has worked with Renner since his pupil's high school days, "and he's also improved lately with his putting, which has taken him to the next level."
A star golfer at Bishop Feehan High and the NAIA Player of the Year while attending Johnson & Wales in Miami, Renner plans to compete on the Golfer's Warehouse (New England) Tour next month, which kicks off July 1-2 at the New England Country Club in Bellingham. He'll also return to the National Golf Association's Hooters Tour later this summer, then prepare for another shot at the Q School in Florida.
"I can't say there was one moment when I realized I wanted to be on the pro tour," said Renner, whose past victories include the New England Amateur Championship and the Francis Ouimet Tournament (twice).
"But when you turn pro, it becomes a whole new world and you had better learn to deal with adversity," said Renner, whose advance to the Mass. Amateur final resulted in a loss on the 34th hole to Brendan Hester. "I know I'm a pretty laid-back person and sometimes I need a little kick in the butt. I've had a few bumps along the way, but I've become mentally tougher and that's really what this game is all about."
Waltham native Shawn McEachern, a 14-year veteran of the National Hockey League, has been named an assistant coach at UMass-Lowell. The former Matignon High and Boston University forward, who played on the Pittsburgh Penguins' 1992 Stanley Cup championship team, was a Northeastern University assistant last season. McEachern played two seasons with the Bruins.
Marvin Pave can be reached at 508-820-4223 or marvin.pave@ rcn.com.
