FIRST SHOT
Columbians, a Dane, a Swede, and a 15 year-old
superstar named Shivin Kwatra from India who I
followed and studied with great interest. I learned
of Shivin when I happened to sit next to his father,
Percy on one of the bus rides back to the Holiday
Inn. When the elder Kwatra discovered that I
was the golf coach at Virginia he pulled from his
bag a thick, bound booklet filled with newspaper
clippings and tournament results. It was the size
of a big city phone book, and its contents proved
without doubt that Shivin Kwatra was the best
young player in all of Asia.
The next day I watched Shivin hit the best
fairway bunker shot I have ever witnessed; a
choked 4-wood from 220 yards that landed with
a tiny hop and stopped like a lob wedge just five
feet from the hole.
Two years later Shivin entered Virginia
as part of a recruiting class that included Shep
Stevens of Middlebury, and future PGA Tour
player Steve Marino of Fairfax, Virginia.
***
Sergio, and really all the members of the
Spanish team were electric. Grinning, laughing,
talking constantly right up to the moment a stroke
was to be played, and then a sudden change to a
passionate focus on the task at hand. More than
most, Spain’s players seemed to exude an intense
longing to produce a perfect golf shot every time.
Their enthusiasm was infectious.
It was one of the most exciting weeks of
tournament golf I have ever witnessed. Historic
Mike Moraghan with Andrea Brotto at the 1996 World Amateur Team Championship
8 | CSGA Links // September, 2017
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