Dylan Healey, who moved to Tennessee from New Mexico, is shown playing the famed Pebble Beach golf course in California.

Arizona-bound Healey beat dad at age 12, won title as sophomore 

By ANDREW SKWARA
For Brentwood Home Page
The world of junior golf is notorious for its prima donnas these days. Its teenagers own remarkable swings, but often aren't equipped with the maturity to match their rapidly-improving talent. They tend to act too good for their own competition, and put their own schedule ahead of team events.

That's exactly why Brentwood Academy golf coach Parker Page has found working with his star Dylan Healey to be so refreshing.

BA senior Dylan Healey, who won the TSSAA DII state tourney as a sophomore, committed to play collegiately for Arizona.

“A lot of junior golfers really think highly of themselves. They act as if their junior tournaments are more important than the team,” Page said. “Dylan could not be further from that stereotype.

"He's great friends with everybody on the team. He's a hard worker in practice. His teammates love being around him. Instead of resenting or tolerating his own personal success, which can be the case with a player of his caliber, they love it.”

Healey has given those teammates plenty of success to not only support, but also lean on this year as the Eagles are positioned to contend again at the Division II state tournament at WillowBrook Golf Club in Manchester beginning Monday.

A senior who will sign a letter-of-intent with Arizona in November, Healey earned low-medalist honors at the Father Ryan Invitational (round of 69) and in the region championships (72); posted a season-low 68 in a victory over Ensworth; and sunk a clutch playoff putt to give BA a win in the Davidson Invitational.

Played varsity as an eighth-grader

Seeing Healey post low scores is nothing new – he posted the lowest individual score at the 2009 state tournament as a sophomore. But seeing  him do so with such frequency is – his stroke average is hovering around 71 according to Page.

“He's having a great year, and he's been super consistent,” Page said. “In past years he's always been capable of shooting 67, but he's also had 77 and 78s. He's really gotten away from that and shooting around that even-par number nearly every time out.” 

So, what's changed? Why is Healey playing so much steadier now?

“I think the key for me was to eliminate big numbers,” Healey said. “I've started to be smarter on the course and better with my course management.”

Getting a premature baptism into the world of elite high school golf certainly helped with his development as well. When Healey moved to Middle Tennessee from New Mexico five years ago, he earned a spot on BA's varsity team as an eighth-grader.

“It was me and four seniors,” Healey says with a laugh. “Now, I'm the old guy.”

Dylan, whose dad Mike played on mini-tours, began playing golf at a young age.

Picked up game when he could pick up a club

Healey arrived to the high school ranks well prepared despite his youthful age at the time. His father, Mike, who tried to play professionally and competed on mini-tours, began teaching his son the game as soon as he was old enough to hold a club.

Healey was quickly hooked. By the time he was 12, he had already managed to beat his father.

“It's funny. My dad was actually kind of happy because he said , “If you can't beat me, you will never make it on tour,' ” Dylan said.

Along the way, Healey developed the fundamentals that created an uncanny knack for hitting the ball on the sweet spot of the club face.

“He's the best ball striker I have ever been around personally,” Page said. “I love to watch him on the range because he makes such good contact. Even if he hits one poorly, he still makes solid contact. Of course, he also has a fantastic short game. He's very consistent at getting up and down.” 

One goal left before heading off to college

That kind of combination attracted the attention of several colleges. Healey originally committed to the University of New Mexico where his family still has many ties. But in March he switched his pledge to the University of Arizona, which boasts one of the top golf programs in the nation. He also received attention from UNLV, Oregon and others.

Dylan defeated his dad, who competed professionally, when he was 12 years old.

“It all came down to New Mexico and Arizona," Dylan said. "New Mexico has been recruiting me forever, but I've always been an Arizona fan and I figured that's where I wanted to live. They have put out a lot of pros and I like the tradition there too.”

Arizona's alums include PGA stars Jim Furyk, Rory Sabbatini and Rick Barnes. But, before Healey can try and follow in those footsteps, he and his teammates are determined to bring some rather large hardware back to Brentwood Academy's trophy case.

“Our team's goal is to win the state championship,” he said. “I think we have a good chance. Beating (two-time Division I Class AAA champ) Hendersonville kind of jump-started our year.

"We are in a good spot, but, we haven't had our best day yet. Our best day as a team is still out there.”