Jamerson set to go, bad wrist and all

By Chris Lang

Published: July 16, 2008

Faber Jamerson’s surgically repaired left wrist is still healing. By his admission, he’s still only playing at 85 percent, which is about 85 percent better than he felt during last year’s SunTrust State Open of Virginia.

Even with the bum wing, Jamerson managed a tie for fifth in an event he’s won both as a pro and as an amateur. The injured wrist was so sore last July that Jamerson said he played the last 45 holes “one-handed.”

Jamerson, who works at Falling River in Appomattox, underwent surgery in November to repair every joint in the hand, from the knuckles to the wrist. After two months of inactivity, he’s undergone several months of rehabilitation. He didn’t pick up a golf club until April and is just now finding a level of comfort with his swing.

Jamerson, who won the 2006 State Open by six strokes over Troutville’s Chip Sullivan, won’t accept anything less than competing for the championship at this year’s State Open, which begins today at Independence Golf Club in Midlothian and runs through Sunday.

“If I putt the ball well, I can win,” he said. “Independence suits my eye fairly well, and I know I can get on a roll and make some birdies there. I have in the past.

“The expectations, in all honesty, are pretty high. I haven’t finished outside the top 5 there in many years. I’m really looking forward to it.”

Notice Jamerson didn’t mention the repaired wrist in assessing his chances in this week’s event. He won’t allow it to be an excuse for poor performance. Jamerson had to adjust his swing after the surgery, but he said he doesn’t expect the wrist to inhibit his ability to compete at a high level.

He already won a pro-am event at Lowes Island in northern Virginia earlier this summer.

Pre-surgery, Jamerson relied on his ability to shape his shots off the tee. His shots had a lot of left to right motion, along with superior distance. After the surgery, he immediately noticed that he struggled to find the same action on his shots.

“With the strength not being what it was in the wrist, something not quite being the same, I’m having a hard time working it left to right,” Jamerson said. “Now it’s either pretty straight or it falls to the left. I’m trying to adapt into a new golf swing, that’s what it boils down to. It’s a big difference to me.”

Jamerson worked with London Downs pro Kevin Wilmouth to retool his swing. One side effect of the wrist surgery was a loss of distance — about 20 yards off the tee and 10-15 yards (or one club) with irons.

“It’s a whole new learning experience for me,” Jamerson said.

Jamerson is one of three area pros competing in the event. Altavista’s Will Andrews and Liberty golf coach Jeffrey Thomas are also in the field. Thomas will be playing his second State Open of the week — he played in Maryland’s Open Monday-Wednesday.

Jamerson is one of the favorites to win the event. Another to watch includes 2007 State Open champion Josh Meador, who thrilled the crowd at Independence in the final round last July with an eagle from 175 yards out on the par-4 16th hole, essentially clinching the victory.

Pros have won the last three State Opens. The last amateur champion was Spence Andrews, who won at Willow Oaks in Richmond in 2004.

Sullivan, the reigning PGA Professional national champion, is seeking his first State Open title. He’s finished in the top 5 the last four years. Martinsville’s Keith Decker, a mainstay at Boonsboro’s Fox Puss Invitational, is seeking his fourth State Open title and his first since 2002.