Wheatcroft Reaping Benefits Of Big Ten Career
Indiana Standout Hopes To Turn Pro
By Marissa N. Scarvel

Steve Wheatcroft first hit a golf ball while visiting his grandparents, who lived on a course in Indiana, Pa.

He never thought then, or during his four years of high school play, that he would make a living swinging a club.

But the 23-year-old South Strabane Twp. native and Trinity High School graduate is poised to do just that.

Upon completing his final year at Indiana University in Bloomington, Ind., this spring, Wheatcroft will return to the Pittsburgh area for his second summer of work at Oakmont Country Club. In August, he'll head to Florida for a shot at a professional career.

What started as a boyhood hobby has turned into a passion.

Wheatcroft is determined to stay involved in the sport even if playing professionally doesn't pan out.

"I'm going to try it a few years and then I'll weigh my options and see how things have gone," said Wheatcroft, a sports marketing and management major. "If playing doesn't work out, then I'll stay in involved from a business end. Hopefully, I'll establish some contacts."

Wheatcroft played four years of varsity golf at Trinity and twice captured the Young Guns Golf Tournament at Quicksilver Golf Club. Still, he thought playing for a big-time program in the Big Ten Conference was a reach.

"I didn't think I'd have a solid collegiate career," Wheatcroft said. "I played terrible in high school compared to my college teammates. But I caught a lucky break. I thought if I worked hard for two or three years maybe I'd get to play my final year. I never thought it would be the way it has been."

A fifth-year senior, Wheatcroft was an All-Big Ten selection in 1999 and finished fourth in the Frank B. Fuhrer Jr. Invitational (formerly the Pittsburgh Open) last summer.

He received partial scholarships his third and fourth years at Indiana and merited a full scholarship this year - one of only a handful available.

His 298 (74-75-75-74) in last year's Big Ten Championships tied him for 12th place overall and was the best showing of all Hoosiers golfers. The showing earned him All-Conference honors and his 74.5 average, the exact total of his sophomore year, made him the team's top golfer.

Wheatcroft's last season as a Hoosier has been somewhat disappointing. He had a strong fall campaign, winning the Xavier Invitational, the first of his college career, with a 209 score (70-69-70) in October. He understandably wanted to "keep things going."

"The spring season has been a letdown," Wheatcroft said. "I hoped to pick up where I left off in the fall but that hasn't been the case. I'm playing well, I'm just not scoring."

He will have an opportunity to make up for it in the Big Ten Championship, which will be played May 4-6 in Champaign, Ill.

Wheatcroft said the experience during last year's Fuhrer Invitational gave his confidence a boost. Entering the final round, Wheatcroft was tied with his boss, Oakmont Golf Pro Bob Ford.

"To be able to go in and fight it out with him was a lot of fun," Wheatcroft said. "It's a great tournament and there aren't a lot of amateurs who participate. I was pleased with my showing."

Wheatcroft admires Ford and Ned Weaver, the professional at Southpointe Golf Club in Cecil Twp., where Wheatcroft worked six years.

"I've done the bag room and a little of everything at both places," Wheatcroft said. "That, too is a wonderful learning experience. I've decided I want to spend my life involved in the game in some way."

He credits Ford and Weaver, as well as some older former teammates, for helping him improve his game.

"They were all great people to learn from," Wheatcroft said. "Those two (Ford and Weaver) are highly respected and great golfers to look up to. My parents have also been incredibly supportive. I don't know that anyone expected this. I've been fortunate."