Patrick Cover & Thomas Walsh Support Nonprofits through the Game
Patrick Cover and Thomas Walsh, PGA Tour players and 2021 Dormie Network Ambassadors, have enjoyed network golf courses for as long as almost anyone. Specifically, they’ve been teeing it up at Dormie Club in Pinehurst since they were boys, before Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw’s entire 18-hole masterpiece had even debuted.
“Patrick’s grandfather and my dad were both members of Dormie when it was only a 15-hole golf course,” said Thomas, who grew up in High Point, N.C. “Patrick and I have known each other since we were 10. We played competitive golf against each other at every level and have always been great friends. His grandfather and I played in the first ever club championship [at Dormie Club] in the snow and had a great time — especially because I won and he finished second.”
Says Patrick: “My grandfather Don Gundry, who joined the Dormie Club back when it first started, introduced me to golf. He played at Purdue and played a little professionally back in the day, and has always loved the game. We’re very close. He’s always been there since I first started swinging a club at 2 years old.”
Thomas Walsh driving on 18
Making an Impact at a Young Age
When they were middle-school teenagers, Patrick and Thomas established an annual charity fundraiser at Dormie Club. They recruited 22 top juniors from around the state to compete in a two-team, Ryder Cup format match-play event. Each participant was tasked with raising money in order to compete.
In three years under their stewardship, the “Dormie Cup” raised nearly $50,000 that was split between a variety of charities. “We ran this tournament to benefit charities such as The Nicklaus Foundation and Wounded Warriors,” Thomas said. “We brought in the Wounded Warriors group to speak and hang out.”
In addition, Patrick and Thomas established the “Charles G. McCartney Award” that was presented to the Dormie Cup participant who best exemplified service to country, a love of his fellow man, and a love of golf and fellowship. The award was named for Thomas’s great uncle “Chuck,” who twice received the Purple Heart and a Bronze Star for wounds sustained in the Battle of the Bulge under General Patton’s command.
Thomas Walsh shakes an army veteran’s hand
Once Patrick and Thomas entered high school, the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) took over the fundraiser and eventually changed the name to the Carolina Cup. “When Patrick and I were going to college, other juniors loved the idea and wanted to continue the tradition,” Thomas said. “It became a real success and turned into the largest junior charity tournament in the country. It’s now two tournaments that have raised over $500,000 since we created it back in 2010.”
Transitioning into the Majors
Nearly a decade later, both young men are now pursuing professional golf, following a pair of impressive high school and college careers. Patrick won the state 4A individual title at Hough High School near Charlotte and was a three-time first-team All-Colonial Athletic Association honoree from 2014-18 at UNC-Wilmington, while Thomas was a two time All-American at the University of Virginia and captured the 2018 ACC Tournament individual crown.
Patrick Cover on tour
They live 10 miles away from one another in the Jacksonville, Fla., area near TPC Sawgrass. “We still see each other a lot and play money games against each other whenever we’re around,” Thomas said.
Thomas graduated from Virginia as a two-time Academic All-American, with a degree in politics. He earned three wins during his college career and set several UVA records, including most rounds in the 60’s. “UVA was a great place, but tough,” he said. “So, I had to become really good at time management, because I wanted to be an All-American in golf and school, and I was able to accomplish both in two years.”
Thomas Walsh with Virginia coach
What’s Keeping Them Busy This Year
Thomas currently has conditional status on the Korn Ferry Tour, focusing predominantly on the PGA Tour LatinoAmerica, while waiting for his number to get starts. He also plans to compete on the PGA Tour Canada. “I played 2019 when I graduated college in Canada and got Korn Ferry Status my first year out of school,” he said. “But being conditional status when COVID hit was a tough spot to be to get starts on the Korn Ferry.”
As for Patrick, in May, he was one of four players who Monday qualified to compete at the Wells Fargo Championship in Charlotte. Weather issues, including a tornado warning, caused problems at the qualifier, which concluded with a 2-for-1 playoff in near-dark. Patrick made a par on the first playoff hole to earn his second PGA Tour appearance. He made his PGA Tour debut at the 2020 Mayakoba Golf Classic in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. On the first playoff hole of that qualifying event, with nine other golfers playing for one spot, Patrick calmly drained a 25-foot putt birdie putt to advance.
Last year, Patrick won the Canada Q-School-USA East 4 tournament and earned a full exemption for the entire Mackenzie Tour season in 2021. He turned professional after completing four years as UNC-W’s career stroke average leader (72.8). Patrick earned status on PGA Tour China, a stepping stone to the Korn Ferry Tour (previously Web.com Tour), making 11 of 13 cuts in 2019, including two top-10’s.
In addition, he’s also shot 61 twice in competition. “I've always been able to get the putter hot,” Patrick said. “It's really hard to shoot a score like that without making a lot of putts.”
On Representing Dormie NetworkBoth young men say they are honored to represent the Dormie Network brand as they launch their professional careers. “Being a Dormie ambassador has been unbelievable from the start,” Patrick said. “I've only gotten to Dormie Club and Briggs Ranch, but I have a trip scheduled to Ballyhack this summer.
“I love the opportunity to get away and visit these properties before a big event,” he said. “My experience at Dormie and Briggs was a 10 on a scale of 10. I can’t wait for the Dormie clubhouse to be finished.”
Thomas agrees: “Being a Dormie Network ambassador is very special. Dormie Network’s values are perfectly aligned with how I believe golf should be played. The minimalist-like Dormie Club alongside an extremely difficult golf course like Victoria National present a great variety, but all provide a championship test.
“I also played ArborLinks for my first-ever first stage and shot 11-under in really cold, windy, and rainy weather to lose by one and Briggs Ranch for Monday Qualifying,” Thomas added. “I’ll make a trip to Ballyhack soon, because I grew up not far from it in North Carolina. I’m looking forward to playing all the courses and interacting with the members in events the Dormie Network is going to put on.”
Photos courtesy Patrick Cover and Thomas Walsh
