Bill Beaney could write a book about Harry Bane. The Middlebury College men's golf coach calls the 22-year-old from Marblehead "one in a million."
Bane, taking time to talk before his 9:10 a.m. tee time in yesterday's New England Collegiate Golf Championships at The Captains Golf Course in Brewster, is quick to say that the feeling is mutual.
"Coach Beaney is very special. He's been a wonderful mentor. He's been a great coach, great friend and a source of inspiration, even when I wasn't playing well," said Bane.
Bane has accepted a number of tournament awards and has been cited many a time for overcoming adversity. He has been a profile in courage to all those acquainted with him and his esteemed golfing family for bouncing back from 11 cancer procedures on his left leg from ages 4 to 17.
However, no individual recognition in his young life could surpass the Guy Tedesco Award he received as New England Intercollegiate Player of the Year Sunday night at the Irish Village Restaurant in South Yarmouth.
"Nothing I've accomplished in sports compares to this," Bane said. "It's not something all about ability. Part of it is based on the person, the evaluation of coaches, sportsmanship (how you act on the course) and basically if you set an example and are willing to help people."
Bane credited Beaney for much of his four-year success at Middlebury; praised his parents, Rich and Tami, for their guidance and support both on and off the course; and paid tribute to Kernwood Country Club pro Frank Dully for early instructions that led Bane to become a scratch golfer.
The Tedesco Award is presented annually to a New England collegian who has made a significant contribution to college golf and who also reflects the values of sportsmanship that Tedesco stood for.
Among the past winners are two Salem State standouts, Kevin Daly (1991) and Jason Ruschioni (1995), as well as professional Jim Hallett of Bryant College (1981).
The Banes have more than a casual interest in the game. Tami Bane is the perennial Kernwood women's club champ and has a 3-handicap, while Rich is a 5 and their daughter, Haley, is an 8-handicapper as a sophomore at Cornell University, where she is a two-time captain.
Bane, a close friend of LPGA star Morgan Pressel, prides himself on his sporting approach to the game, even on the practice tee.
"I try and live out the actions and examples which were showed to me in golf," he said. "I'm always quick to help others with control and emotion on the course. It shows good character. Golf and character go together."
The economics major and Kittansett Golf Club junior member said there never has been a time when "I didn't think I could do it" and thanked Dully for that type of focus and attitude.
"We couldn't be more proud of him," his mother said. "What he's gone through (the cancer procedures) is actually a long distance memory for us. But I think that experience really had an impact on who he has become as a person today."
Beaney, who is also the Middlebury men's hockey coach, is effusive in his praise of Bane.
"He is an exceptional golfer, but winning this award is about being the whole person — and that's Harry, totally," said Beaney. "For him it's the competition, the relationships, the sportsmanship. He's exceptional in all areas.
"I told the people at the banquet that I refer to him as coach," continued Beaney. "In reality, he has coached me and I learned so much sitting next to him on the long road trips, watching the way he interacts with his teammates."
According to Beaney, his wife Judy is already tired of hearing him whine about the prospect of not having Harry Bane around next year.
meet harry bane
* 22-year-old from Marblehead
* Two-time Middlebury College golf captain
* Four-time All-NESCAC selection
* 2004 NESCAC Rookie of the Year
* Led Middlebury into NCAA Division 3 tournament
* Won 2008 Williams Invitational tournament
* Stroke average of 75 this season
* Two-time NESCAC tournament runner-up
* Career stroke average of 76 at Middlebury
