Enduring Friendships Formed at Golf.com World Amateur Handicap Championship

They’ve called themselves the Myrtle Misfits, the Duffers and names that aren’t fit to print on a family website. Nothing has stuck. The only tag that has stuck to Victor Ferreira, Greg Davis, Dennis Navin and their group is a much more meaningful one: friends.

Following a round in the 1991 Golf.com World Amateur Handicap Championship, the trio met at the hotel pool where they were staying and became friends faster than Michael Phelps swims an Olympic race. They come from different areas of the country and walks of life – Ferreira is from Scottsdale, Davis from Narrows, Va. and Navin from Tewksbury, Ma. – but the World Am and a love of golf helped start a 20-year friendship.
 

“We all share a lot of the same values and interests,” Ferreira said. “We’ve been to see each other’s homes, met girlfriends, spouses, kids and there is a bond there now that can’t be broken.”

Ferreira, Davis and Navin, who joke that they are celebrating their 20th anniversary this year, form the core of a group of buddies that stay in touch throughout the year with communication reaching a fever pitch in the months leading up to the tournament.

Trash is talked, bets are placed, and pride is on the line. One friend who was unable to attend this year has even been placing bets via phone to stay in touch with the action. 

To make sure everyone knows what’s going on in the two condos the group share, Ferreira brings a printed leaderboard with everyone’s name and handicap. The leaderboard hangs on a condo wall, totaling up scores and serving as an unrelenting reminder of who is winning and losing their personal matches.

Great as is it is to claim bragging rights amongst the group, Ferreira accomplished an even more memorable first in 2010 – he won his flight and advanced to the World Championship Playoff at TPC Myrtle Beach. He was the first among the group to advance to the championship round and it’s a memory he won’t soon forget.

“You definitely come down for the fun and fellowship, but I was fortunate to win my flight,” said Ferreira. “For anybody who hasn’t come down here to play in this event, the thrill to win your flight and go to Friday, you can’t even describe the feeling of adrenaline, excitement. That’s a feeling I’ll never forget. That is one of my prized moments in all my time playing golf.”

When Ferreira advanced to the World Championship Playoff, several friends were there to watch, with one notable exception.

“I went to play golf,” a laughing Davis said. “I actually played well that day.”