Father Ricky Bell caddies for son Parker Bell at The Amateur Championship in England
Well, at least it wasn’t the caddie’s fault.
“I am glad I didn’t shoot it (with rangefinder),” Ricky Bell said and laughed. “I learned a long time ago that I wasn’t making any decisions for (son) Parker when he was on the golf course. But it was such a great experience. And I am really proud of him.
"And I know Parker felt proud to represent his country and his school.”
Parker Bell - a three-time All-Bend Golfer of the Year and individual Class 3A state champion (2021) while at Chiles High – and father Ricky Bell traveled to England last month for the 128th Amateur Championship.
Parker Bell, who completed his freshman year this season for the national-champion Florida Gators, needed a traveling partner and a caddie for one of the biggest and most prestigious amateur championship in the world.
The winner among 288 players secures exemptions into The Open and the U.S. Open and an invitation to play in the Masters Tournament.
The four-day tournament features two qualifying rounds of stroke play and two rounds of match play.
Parker Bell played in 4 tourneys for the Florida Gators in 2023
Parker Bell enjoyed his freshman season at UF, saying it was a great learning experience.
Featuring a talented and experienced roster, the Gators beat rival Florida State in the semifinals and Georgia Tech in the finals to claim their fifth NCAA Championship last month in Scottsdale, Arizona.
UF's roster featured four senior PING All-Americans.
Bell played in four tournaments, making his debut at SEC Match Play at the No. 5 spot. He carded a season-best round of 1-under 69 at VyStar Gators Invitational in February.
Bell was also recently named to the 2022-23 SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll.
"I really think I got a lot better," Bell said of his freshman season.
"I learned a lot from players like (senior) Ricky Castillo. I probably played 100 rounds of golf with Ricky, who is going to be on the PGA Tour in the near future. Learning from those guys (seniors) is an experience you can't get anywhere else. I think next season the lineup will be kind of wide open and I will have the chance to play more if I can take advantage of my opportunities."
It's tournaments like the prestigious Amateur Championship where Bell embraced the chance to experience new shots and strategies.
Parker Bell in contention after 30 holes of qualifying stroke play
Bell was in contention to advance to match play at 1-under par in the second round of stroke play (2-under par was the cut line to advance).
He faced an approach shot from the left rough on the par-4, 400-yard 13th hole at Hillside Golf Club.
“But then I made a pretty bad mistake,” Bell said.
Bell mistakenly shot the mound behind the flagstick with his rangefinder, which measures distance between the golfer and an object on the golf course.
Believing he was 157 yards out, and not the actual distance of 140, Bell flew the green. He double bogeyed the hole and tumbled to 1-over par.
Bell parred the next two holes and was positioned for a dramatic finish.
Needing to close out with three consecutive birdies to be one of 64 golfers to advance to match play, Bell birdied the 16th and 17th holes. He hit a thunderous drive down the middle of the fairway on the par-4, 436-yard 18th.
“It was probably my best drive of the two days,” said Bell, who was left with an 80-yard approach shot.
Bell, however, was unable to get up-and-down for a birdie on the green from 80 feet to advance to match play.
Still, the disappointing finish didn't diminish Bell's golf experience - and the time with his father.
The tourney was Bell's first time overseas.
"It's a different style of golf from here in the states," said Bell, who will play in the U.S. Amateur qualifier in Gainesville July 6-7.
"Here, you are banging a lot of drivers on every hole. There, the fairways are really tight and firm. You don't have to hit a lot of drivers. And the ball may roll out 80-plus yards if you hit it low (off the tee). It was all about keeping it out of the fairway and pot bunkers. My strategy was good. I gave myself a chance but fell one stroke short. It would have been cool to see how far I could have gone in match play.
"I am looking forward to playing it in next year. I feel like I have some unfinished business."
Ricky Bell also enjoyed the trip, admitting he got off easy as a caddie since golfers were allowed to use push carts.
"One day we had an electric (push) cart and I had to catch up to it," Bell said and laughed.
"Honestly, to go over there and spend time with Parker and caddie for him, it was really special. Something I will always remember."
South Africa's Christo Lamprecht, who just completed his senior season at Georgia Tech, defeated Switzerland's Ronan Kleu 3&2 to win the championship.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Former Chiles star, UF golfer Parker Bell competes at The Amateur Championship
