“Golf has given me every opportunity I’ve ever had in life. Everything that’s happened to me I can tie back to golf; I wouldn’t be here without it. In my opinion, golf is the best sport for self-development. Every day is different, every round is different. You learn as a kid to grow up really quick, how to act around older members. I played with my grandad and his friends a lot. You learn how to speak to others, so many life skills. And it’s all on you, you don’t have to rely on a teammate Mike Hearne, back row third from right, and the Welsh Men’s Home International Team. doing their part. If you fail it’s because of you.” City. Hearne explained he would was unsure of what kind of work —MIKE HEARNE be attending SNU and his father interested him, but he knew the would be returning to Wales in a expiration date of his one-year couple of days. The lady quickly work visa would be here before jotted down her telephone he knew it. A professor suggested the greatest confidence in his number, gave it to Hearne, and Hearne look into real estate. decision to relocate. Leaving Will told him to call if he needed He joined the Keller Williams Rogers World Airport and heading anything. He knew at that moment brokerage, made his own work north on Meridian Avenue to 39th he was somewhere unique. schedule, and played as much golf Expressway, Hearne noticed the Fast forward to May 2015, as he could. many industrial parks, small car Hearne graduated from SNU His first few years in the real lots, and abandoned buildings. with a degree in Marketing. He estate business proved fruitful. He thought to himself, “What have Mike Hearne and caddy Lee Griffiths at the Welsh Open at Celtic Manor Gold Club in Wales. I done?” Before his father headed back to Wales, the two headed east on 39th Expressway, historic Route 66, to the famous Ann’s Chicken Fry. When the chicken fried steak arrived, the portion size larger than any they had ever seen, covered in “white” gravy they couldn’t help but laugh. What was white gravy? Again, something they had never seen before. A lady in the booth next to them asked where they were from and what brought them to Oklahoma 44