Saturday, Jul. 05, 2008

Local Sgt. earns shot of lifetime

By Rocky Morrow, Herald staff writer

When Jeff and Shirley Bare of Kennewick sit down to watch the AT&T National this week they may catch a glimpse of somebody they haven't seen for a while -- their son, Air Force Technical Sergeant Britt Bare, who is stationed on Bagram Air Field in Afghanistan as part of the 455th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron.

Sgt. Bare, a 1993 Kennewick High graduate, was one of six U.S. military members selected from around the world to take the ceremonial first swing at a ball which will be put into play by a PGA pro during the tournament -- a shot which was recorded for posterity.

"He was taped hitting the ball on June 9th," Shirley said. "And that's going to be broadcast during a part of the tournament. He said, 'I hope I don't mess up and scratch the darn club.'"

The club in question was one of six drivers autographed by Tiger Woods which Britt won as part of an American Forces Network radio contest on June 7.

But Jeff Bare sees it as just one more reason to be proud of his son.

"Wouldn't you be?" Jeff Bare said. "Just the fact of where he is and what he's doing -- doing the job that's been asked of him, to serve his country."

Sgt. Bare is scheduled to return home next week to his family in Great Falls, Montana: wife Penny, also a Kennewick High graduate, and children Briton, 10; Caitlin, 9; Emma, 7, and Brant, 5.

And his plan for the Tiger Woods driver is to treat it as an heirloom, or a work of art.

"He wants to hang it on the wall," Penny said. "Make it look decor-ish."