Pisgah star golfer birdies his way to UVA Wise

Apr. 22—Pisgah senior golfer Matthew Mehaffey has locked in his collegiate home, signing with UVA Wise on Friday. It's a crowning moment for a golfer completing his high-school career in style.

"This year, Matt has shot five-under (par) twice," said his coach Bentley Rogers. "I've been doing this for 11 years, and I've never had anyone shoot that low in a match ever. It's helped us win. That was big for him to be able to have those days."

The senior is a lifelong golfer, first picking up a club when he was 2 years old and getting out on the course by 5. While he also started at quarterback for Pisgah's football team (and briefly wrestled), Mehaffey's heart was always elsewhere.

"Golf has always been one step ahead,' Mehaffey said. "I've played it longer, and I would choose golf over football every time."

Rogers recalled asking a freshman Mehaffey what sport he'd give up if he could only play one in high school. Mehaffey quickly answered that he'd be a golfer.

"That's what you've got to have. You've got to have that mentality to play college golf," Rogers said. "I'm extremely proud of him. He loves the game of golf."

If you ask any of his coaches, they'll tell you Mehaffey simply hates losing. Rogers recalled Mehaffey being in the hunt for a state qualifier spot last season.

Going into the last hole, Rogers told the then-junior that he needed a birdie to punch his ticket.

"The guy almost eagled," Rogers said. "He knew he had to have a birdie, and he stepped up. He didn't let the previous holes bother him. He fought through it. He knows how to handle adversity. He's a leader."

That can-do spirit helped him land a spot at UV Wise, Rogers explained.

"He put the work in to get his name out there," he said. "He doesn't play a lot of tournaments, but he called schools to get his name out there. It paid off for him."

'A special kid'

Mehaffey has made an impact off the course as well.

"Matthew Mehaffey is a special kid. Matthew means a lot to me and my family. My youngest one looks up to him tremendously," Rogers said. "My son took a picture with him, and my son has not smiled like that in a picture in a year or two. We joked that it was the Christmas card photo. My son was beaming around him."

Once recruitment started, Mehaffey was getting interest from multiple schools. But one stood out.

"I had some of my friends who attend UVA Wise, and they told me they really like it. When the coach reached out, I was really excited," Mehaffey said. "It's a beautiful campus. I like how everything is close-knit up there. It's a smaller campus, but it's very nice. It felt like home."

Mehaffey plans to major in business management at UVA Wise.