NC golfer’s state title pursuit driven by mother’s inspiration, work ethic

Among a family of basketball guards, Holly Neal recorded the greatest assist a number of years ago by inspiring her family — including husband David and sons Andrew and Walker — to join MacGregor Downs Country Club.

“She’s the one that runs the show,” David said — not just on Mother’s Day, but always.

“If it wasn’t for that move,” David continued, “then Andrew and Walker would not be as good at golf as they are.”

Andrew, a Cary Christian senior bound for Wofford College in Spartanburg, S.C., where he will play golf, won the 2024 N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association Division II individual state championship, and helped lift the Knights to the NCISAA team title. Andrew and his teammates will strive to repeat as champions on May 12-13, in the 3A state meet at Greensboro’s Bryan Park Golf Course.

In the bigger picture, the outcome could yield another photographic moment for the lifetime memories collage Holly and Andrew made during May’s first weekend.

Keep calm and work hard, like Mom

David, a member of the 1995 North Carolina Tar Heels’ basketball team that reached the Final Four, is now the athletic director at Sanderson High School in Raleigh, his alma mater. As a coach, he led Apex to the 2014 N.C. 4A boys’ basketball state championship, and was known for his animated sideline demeanor — which extends to his golf game.

“Andrew gets his coolness from me,” Holly said of her younger son’s contrasting sports demeanor from that of her husband. Andrew, calmly birdied the 18th hole on the way to his one-stroke win in last year’s rain-soaked state meet at Greensboro National Golf Club.

Andrew, who has also scored more than 1,700 points playing high school basketball — a nod to the obvious similarities to his father — always played golf, but really sharpened his focus on the sport in high school. On April 30, Andrew matched older brother Walker’s 2023 milestone by winning the Capital City Conference individual championship at MacGregor Downs, where he eagled the 17th hole en route to the win. Andrew acknowledged Holly’s watchful, discerning eyes and notetaking for his developmental reference as integral to his continuous progress on the greens.

“She’s the hardest-working person I know,” Andrew said of his mother, before articulating her greatest life lesson. “Hard work is very important in everything that we do. She’s always pushing me to go out and practice more.”

Then again, there is what David calls a tough, amusing love that comes with Holly fostering her sons’ growth.

“You can’t make bogeys” and “Toughen up,” David said, are among his wife’s favorite quotes. “How annoying is that when you’re out there grinding for 18 holes?

“That toughness rubs off on Walker and Andrew.”

Relationships matter

Holly also taught him to treat people with kindness and respect, a trait that has served Andrew well in all facets of his life.

“His kindness towards teammates, classmates, and adults mirrors that of his mother, Holly, who was always warm and welcoming to my son, Bennett — often inviting him into their home and generously providing meals,” Cary Christian golf coach Paul Brewer said.

A context for building meaningful relationships, Holly said, is among the things for which she is most grateful that education-based athletics have afforded her sons, particularly through David’s coaching. Holly recalls the eagerness of Andrew and Walker to watch game film with their dad.

“If there is ever an opportunity to learn from something, they’re always doing it,” Holly said. “They would look at the stats. They got to know and establish relationships with each of the players on the teams.”

Employing sports for cultivating relationships while maintaining a grinding mindset, Walker said, is the nexus of the greatest life lesson Holly — a Red Hat program and platform manager — has imparted through her maternal and professional examples and endeavors.

“Treat it like a job. Stick with it. You’re going to have ups and downs everyday,” said Walker, a rising junior at the University of Mississippi, who was driving Friday to make it home for Mother’s Day weekend and Andrew’s high school golf finale. Walker has envisioned how Holly will use her maternal “sixth sense” for planning, even for something on Mother’s Day.

“She puts in the extra effort to get a hotel to make sure he can get in a practice round,” Walker said. “She gets enough rooms for all of us to be there.”

Be it known, too, that Holly, beyond her external, reserved, supportive demeanor, is in it to win it.

“She gives me a bigger hug than if I lose,“Andrew said. “She’ll try and make me want to go practice more, and get better, and have a better match next time.”