VanArragon won the Minnesota State Open, the state amateur championship and currently golfs for Valparaiso University in NW Indiana. But things got even better for the ex-Blaine Bengals golf star, when he was invited to play in the 3M Open. The hometown kid got to play on the hometown course.
Caleb knows the TPC well. He grew up in Blaine and has played the course approximately one hundred times. “He played his first high school tournament here in 8th grade,” said his mom Janel VanArragon.
“I still live 10 minutes away from here,” Caleb said. “It’s definitely a course that I’m pretty comfortable on which is really good. It definitely takes out a variable.”
Hollywood script
Caleb never imagined he would play in a PGA tournament while still golfing at Valparaiso.
“This has been a dream of mine for a long time,” VanArragon said. “Just to get to play in a PGA Tour event.”
“It’s pretty surreal,” said Brett Theisen, Assistant Golf Coach at Blaine HS.
The whole thing seems like it came straight out of Hollywood. Pure fiction. The golfing version of Rocky. Except in this case Caleb’s dream became reality when he received the 3M Open invite.
“Its’ almost like you can’t write a better script,” said Blaine Mayor Tim Sanders. “On the home course in your hometown.”
“That was a crazy call for me to get,”Caleb said. “It’s been such a fun week so far.”
“We knew Caleb was really good, obviously 8th grader all the way through,” Theisen said. “Many times at practice he would just show up, Didn’t matter what day, he was coming in low.”
Taste of the Tour
Family members and friends showed up in the scorching heat for the first two rounds at TPC just to support Caleb.
“Little nervous, but it’s been really fun,” Janel said. “The last three days have been just a blast. I caddied for him in the first three days in the practice rounds of the pro am and that was a special time.”
Caleb did not rip up the course in his PGA Tour debut, as he got a taste of the tour and what it’s like to golf under the microscope.
“I’ve never played in a tournament with every shot tracked online with shot link,” said Caleb.
In round one Caleb was plus 5. In round two he bounced back with a minus 1, but he missed the cut. But those numbers don’t really count. This opportunity was all about getting valuable experience.
“We are very proud of him,” said Janel.
Getting the chance to be on the links to compete with golf greats gave Caleb a taste of just how good the pros are.
“I’m looking forward to the opportunity to get used to playing golf at this type of level,” Caleb said. “It’s already been so much fun getting to see all the tour pros I grew up watching just being on the same putting green as me…It’s tough to just focus on your putting when there’s Justin Thomas. there’s Stewart Sink, anybody like that. That’s where I’m just trying to enjoy the week as much as I can.”
“Cool opportunity”
If Caleb is going to be on the PGA Tour tour someday, he is going to have to raise his game to another level, which he is certainly capable of doing.
“He has the talent,” said Valparaiso Golf Coach David Gring. “He has the ability. He has the mindset for it. It’s going to be his choice. This experience here this weekend will really tell a lot. It just gives him a great flavor for it and a great experience with it.”
“I wish him the very best,” said Tom Lehman, who won five PGA tournaments when he was on the tour.
Caleb’s incredible opportunity came and went in a Minnesota minute. When he reflects on everything, Caleb can focus on the highlights, learn from the lowlights and just keep trying to get better.
“Smart kid,” said Charley Walters, a columnist for the St. Paul Pioneer Press. “I told him he’s too smart for golf. A nice guy and we’re all pulling for him. He might be the next Tom Lehman. Who knows?”
“The fact that he grew up here, gets to play in his backyard, gets to be in front of his family and all of his friends, gets to go back to college and compete still as an amateur, gives him a green light I think to just go out and have a fun week,” Lehman said. “There’s expectations to a point, but mostly for him this should be a fun time.”
“I wasn’t expecting it to happen this early,” Caleb said. “But it’s definitely such a cool experience and a cool opportunity to get to play in this.”
