Selection #1 Chad "Otis" Hedrick

Chad Hedrick- Selected with the #1 overall pick by The Hunt Club

Names like Pebble Beach, Pinehurst, the TPC and Augusta are all synonymous with golf. When those words are spoken, the vision of lush fairways, expensive resorts and white collar clubhouses come to mind. They are storied and revered in golf lore. Golfers dream of someday walking through Amen Corner or sending one across the water at the Sawgrass seventeen.

Despite the glamour and tradition associated with such golf sanctuaries, its the tracks that rarely get any mention beyond the locals where most golfers learn the game. For Triad golfers, names like Lexington, Hemlock, Twin Cedars and Blair Park ring more familiar. For one TGA member, learning to play the game was secondary to learning about the game. And one such course, Colonial Country Club, served as an excellent teacher.

From his early clubhouse days working the carts at Colonial to his stint as an assistant pro at Pine Knolls Golf Course, Chad Hedrick has a lifetime of golf experiences that have helped mold him into the first overall draft pick for the 2009 King Invitational.

For the casual observer, Hedrick's laser-like short game and deft putting touch are the pillars from which he's built a strong, tactical all-around game. But for those close to the TGA Tour, there are other aspects of Hedrick's playing style that define his golf career. As a long-time student of the game, Hedrick's fondness for the tradition and integrity of the storied sport are what separates him from most players. His ability to use golf as a conduit for friendships and camaraderie are unmistakable.

Explaining what sold him on Hedrick as the #1 overall pick, The Hunt Club captain Wayne Hunt had this to say. "Obviously, Chad's on-course talents are unmatched on Tour. For no other reason than that, Chad's a prime candidate for the first pick year in and year out. It's the intangibles though, that make Chad an undeniable top pick."

"No other player is more of a student of golf than Chad. Beyond that, though, no one else is more of a teacher. He's very approachable and willing to help others improve their game. I believe his sense of golf history and tradition are what fuels his desire to improve not only his own game but to help elevate those around him. Who wouldn't want that from a teammate?"

"He's a former player of the year, has a putting stroke that most guys will give an organ for, and is someone that has faced every possible situation on the course. For all of those reasons, I'm proud to announce The Hunt Club has selected Chad with the top pick in this year's draft."

Hedrick continues his streak of never missing a King Invitational event.

• Role in The Hunt Club: Range Instructor
• School: East Davidson High School, High Point University
• Personal: Wife, Michelle. Son, Zachary
• Other notable athletes drafted #1 overall: Future Hall-of-Famers Shaquille O'Neal (Orlando Magic, 1992) Ken Griffey, Jr. (Cincinnati Reds, 1987)
• Hobbies: Watching NASCAR, attending Zachary's ball games
• Favorite teams: Duke Blue Devils, Washington Redskins
• Did you know? Chad is the only person in history to have both caddied on the PGA Tour and played on the TGA Tour
• Who would play Chad in the sports movie version of the King Invitational: Country music star and actor Vince Gill