Luke List, Bryce Ledford big help to Special Olympians

Luke List and Bryce Ledford spent part of their Monday morning teaching golf to Special Olympians.

Then a little later, each swung a driver and cleared a fence about 320 yards down the range at Bear Trace at Harrison Bay during a clinic before the Catoosa County Special Olympics charity tournament.

They committed to participate long before List sewed up his spot on the PGA Tour beginning next season. List's mother, Bonnie, is a volunteer for Special Olympics and is the adaptive physical education teacher for Catoosa County.

"I grew up with my mom in the Special Olympic world, and it's so great to give back," List said. "It's fun to support their cause. I'd love to make it a really big event and maybe get some of my buddies [including Rickie Fowler and Keegan Bradley] and make it a big deal."

List, who prepped at Baylor School, is No. 1 on the Nationwide Tour money list after winning the South Georgia Classic two weekends ago and finishing runner-up Sunday at the Stadion Classic in Athens, Ga.

"I've kind of changed my goals, and my goal is to set records and make a name for myself on the Nationwide Tour," List said. "I've got a lot to focus on."

Ledford, who played at McCallie and UTC, is playing on the NGA Tour and occasionally in Nationwide events. His current focus is to prepare for U.S. Open qualifying tournaments. The Open is being played at the Olympic Club in San Francisco, where Ledford played in the 2008 U.S. Amateur.

"I'm right there," Ledford said. "I feel that it's my time."

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