Golf

By HAROLD WILSON
Staff Writer

Jeremiah Gilbert appreciates second chances more than ever these days.

The 25-year old Grapevine native qualified for the Texas State Open at the Second Chance Qualifying Tournament last week. As a result, Gilbert got going on the second phase of a golf career in serious jeopardy of being over last year during his bout with colon cancer.

Gilbert made a triumphant return to the links for his first tournament of the year Thursday at The Cascades. He fired a 4-over 74 to tie for 81st. But just being back felt like a victory for Gilbert after doctors removed a cancerous tumor last February.

“It feels good,” Gilbert said moments after bogeying the No. 9 hole and pausing a few minutes to work on his putting at the practice green. “A lot of prayers, God, and hard work is what got me here. I’m pretty excited. …nervous.”

It took a battle for Gilbert to make the 156-player field, with him surviving a playoff at The Cascades to nab one of the last 18 berths. But getting to that point required an even bigger victory of sorts.

After experiencing abdominal pain and uneasiness while sleeping, Gilbert decided to get checked out.

“After I would eat my stomach would hurt,” he said. “I couldn’t lie on my back at night. After a month of exams and CAT Scans, they took it out of there. First it was scary when the doctor told me. I was like, ‘why me?’ I never had any health problems as a kid.”

While in recovery, a determined Gilbert decided to fight his way through.

“Three or four days after surgery I got up, started walking a little bit,” he said. “I told myself I wouldn’t let this keep me down. They say you have to be mentally strong to get through something like this.”

Following surgery, Gilbert underwent six months of chemotherapy, taking treatment every other week. He devoted himself to the golf course on the other weeks.

“They got it all out; it was good after surgery. Thank God for that,” he said. “Every other week I kept practicing, hitting the ball.”

Around the age of four or five, Gilbert picked up on the game from his father, a former standout golfer.

“I guess it was in my blood,” he said. “I went home and watched golf, ate golf, slept golf.”

Surprisingly, Gilbert reached the tour without ever playing college golf. He attended Tarrant County Community College for two years, and in the meantime honed his skills while working at Timarron Country Club in Southlake.

“I never knew to write letters, I didn’t get my name out there,” he said. “I’ve been working at it, trying to get after it this year. I need more experience to get to that next level. But it starts here, whether I stay for the weekend or not.”

With the second round on the horizon, and Gilbert two shots back of making the cut — the top 55 including ties advance to Saturday’s third round — he knows he needs to putt better today to remain in play.

Starting out on the back nine, Gilbert managed par on holes No. 10, 11 and 12. A double-bogey on No. 13 put him at 2-over, but he bounced back with a birdie on No. 14. After another bogey on No. 17, Gilbert failed on a golden opportunity to get back to 1-over, missing a five-foot chip shot.

On the front nine, Gilbert recorded three bogeys on holes No. 2, 3 and 9, and a birdie on No. 6.

“I love (the course),” Gilbert said of The Cascades. “It has fast greens and you have to hit the ball straight out here. There’s birdies out there. Today I didn’t make many putts. I’ll try to get it back and stay for the weekend.”

Whether he makes it through, Gilbert plans to take things in stride. Even more so now with a 10-month old daughter, Avery, to care for.

“I have a better outlook on life,” he said. “I’m more appreciative of things. That’s something to look forward to and keep my head up (my daughter). This is just golf. I feel blessed to be out here playing when there’s so many people that can’t.”

JEREMIAH GILBERT, of Grapevine, tees off on the second hole during first-round action of the Texas State Open on Thursday at The Cascades Golf Club.
((Staff Photo By Herb Nygren Jr.))