Olympic Member More Than Just A Host To Candela

 

Per Hilmo Steps In To Caddie For 16-Year-Old Colombian

 

By David Shefter, USGA

 

San Francisco - When Per Hilmo, an Olympic Club member since 1978, signed up to host a contestant for the 2004 U.S. Junior Amateur little did he know he was going to be more than a gracious host and chauffeur.

 

No, this week has turned into something much more memorable.

 

Juan Pablo Candela has used the local knowledge of host/caddie Per Hilmo to advance to the quarterfinals of the U.S. Junior Amateur (John Mummert/USGA)

Hilmo is getting an up close and personal look at the championship. In fact, he's walked every step of the way with his house guest, Juan Pablo Candela of Bogota, Colombia. Candela, who won two matches on Thursday to advance to the quarterfinals, was prepared to lug his bag over the hilly 6,790-yard Lake Course layout until Hilmo, a 12-handicapper, asked if he would like a caddie.

 

"He said fine and I have ended up caddieing ever since," said Hilmo, who began carrying Candela's bag Tuesday morning when he needed to play three holes to complete the fog-delayed first round of stroke-play qualifying. "It's been wonderful. He's a great kid. He's very easy to be with. He's a gentleman."

 

Part of the charm of the U.S. Junior is that contestants can request to be housed by a local family. Usually club members volunteer to take in a few kids who can't afford lodging or prefer not to stay in a hotel. Candela traveled to Olympic Club alone after competing last week at the Junior World event in San Diego. There he stayed in a hotel because his father, a lawyer, had flown from Colombia to be with Juan Pablo at that competition as well as his Junior Amateur qualifier in Oregon.

 

"I think it's better to stay with a family," said Candela, who is trying to become just the second foreign-born winner of the U.S. Junior (Terry Noe of Korea won in 1994, although fellow Colombian Camilo Villegas lost in the 1999 Junior Amateur final). "You get to know people. It's a great experience. They've definitely been great with me. They are great people, what can I say."

 

And the Hilmos have discovered just how disciplined and focused Candela is. When Per Hilmo arrived 10 minutes before he was scheduled to pick Candela up on Tuesday following his second stroke-play round, the 16 year old quipped: "I've still got 10 minutes. You were supposed to be here at 5 p.m. "

 

Said Candela: "I'm kind of structured and very organized."

 

"He insists on getting out to the course about an hour or an hour and a half early and then he's out here for two or three hours after that practicing," said Hilmo. "He hasn't seen any part of San Francisco. He's been out here all the time. He has no interest other than golf."

 

Candela has had quite a summer, first traveling to Japan for a competition and then flying to Buffalo, N.Y., to compete in the International Junior Masters at East Aurora (N.Y.) Country Club where he advanced to the quarterfinals. It was then off to Oregon for his Junior Amateur qualifier (placed second) and then to the Junior Worlds at Torrey Pines South where a final-round 80 soured what was a solid week of golf.

 

But this week, his game has been quite solid. After posting a 9-over 149 in qualifying, Candela has defeated Ryan Blue (2 and 1), local favorite Roberto Galletti Jr. (2 and 1) and Kyle Takesue (19 holes) to reach the round of eight.

 

Of course, all this means more work - make that exercise - for Hilmo.

 

"Everybody gets their 15 minutes of fame," yelled one of Olympic member.

 

For Hilmo, it's been more like a whole week.

David Shefter is a USGA staff writer. E-mail him with comments and questions at dshefter@usga.org.