Making it in 'the real world'

For most people, mention of The Gateway Tour might conjure up thoughts of a guided trip through a computer manufacturing factory.

But for Somerton native Gabe Plaza, it's where his story begins as a professional golfer.

Where that story ends remains to be seen, but with the support of a crew of local investors and a game that's caught the attention of a PGA Tour winner, Plaza's rookie year appears to be the first of many more successful years to come.

"For now this is a great experience," Plaza said of his first four months on The Gateway Tour. "But if everything goes well I have big plans, and hopefully one day I can make it to the show (PGA Tour)."

Plaza, 20, earned All-American honors in his first year at South Mountain Community College, placing third individually at the NJCAA national tournament. Then with some encouragement and financial backing, he took his game to the professional ranks in January.

"Right now there are seven investors from Yuma that know me well and took me under their wing to sponsor me. They saw some potential in me to do well and they've been a great help. I don't want to name them all, but all my investors know that I'm really happy with what they've done for me."

Val Casper is one of those seven sponsors who has the fortune of getting an up-close look at his investment as his caddie. The two drive each week from Yuma for the three-day tournaments as part of the tour's seven-week spring series played exclusively in Arizona.

Plaza also played in the winter series and made his first cut in the final week. And thus far in the spring series, Plaza has made both cuts and finished in a tie for 11th place last week at Hillcrest G.C. with rounds of 67, 69 and 68.

"Usually for a rookie, they never make a cut," Casper said. "I was talking to a Gateway official, and they're proud of him for also being the first rookie to ever make a hole-in-one on the tour."

Life on tour has brought some new experiences to Plaza beyond the paychecks that follow each successful week. The highlights have included a personal conversation with former PGA champion Notah Begay III, while some of the harder days have meant playing a tournament with a dislocated shoulder.

"He was hitting balls on the practice range and the last ball he hit he knocked his shoulder out," Casper said. "He finished that day because he wanted to get the points instead of just taking the money for making cut. The ironic part of it is on 14th hole he hit a 5-iron a couple hundred yards and the shoulder popped back into place."

Now that golf has become a full-time job, Plaza said his practice sessions have become much more valuable and precise, and the process begins long before he hits the driving range.

"You don't want to just be hitting, you want a schedule. At tournaments I write notes down like if my putting was off or where I'm missing my shots, and I take it to the course back in Yuma to see where I need to be."

Plaza said he would not have been able to make the transition of becoming a pro golfer without the support of his family, girlfriend and investors. And those same supporters have plenty of faith in him as well.

"There are a lot of people backing Gabe mentally and emotionally, but what we're all hoping is that he makes it the the championship event in the spring series as a money winner," Casper said. "We hope all of Yuma comes out to follow him on the course to see a hometown boy make it big and get his (PGA Tour) card."

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Rob Weiler can be reached at
rweiler@yumasun.com or 539-6883.