Chance meeting led Glen Day to OU

by ken macleod

It’s funny how things work out.

If Gregg Grost hadn’t stopped in a dive called The Gin after attending a wedding in Oxford, Miss., in the summer of 1986, Glen Day would not be a proud representative of the Oklahoma Sooner golf program.

Who knows, he may not even be a professional golfer. Instead, he’s a strong candidate to win when the 2021 KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship is contested at Southern Hills, an event Day is looking forward to immensely.

Back to that chance meeting in Oxford. Day, a headstrong youngster from Poplarville, Miss., was more enamored with fraternity life than golf early in his Ole Miss career. A meeting with coach Ernest Ross and Athletic Director Warner Alford resulted in Day being “politely” told he had two weeks to clear out.

Grost had recruited Day a bit in high school and recognized him in the campus dive. They struck up a conversation which ended with Day telling Grost he was going to come play for him at Oklahoma.

“That was the last I thought about it,” Grost said. “Then in August, I get this call. “Coach, I’m on my way. See you in three days.”

Grost said come on, and sure enough Day was there a few days later, beginning a wild two-year ride that left both frazzled at times, but also with great mutual respect and a long-lasting friendship. “We argued every day,” Grost said. “It was always about something different. He was just so passionate about playing and loved being at Oklahoma. And now, we’ve been best friends ever since.”

The starting five in 1987 was Day, Todd Hamilton, Grant Waite, Craig Perks and Doug Martin. Each of the five except Martin, who at that time was regarded as the strongest player, wound up winning at least one event on the PGA Tour, while Martin, now the golf coach at Cincinnati, won on the Nike Tour.

Rick Bell, longtime Ping rep in Oklahoma, was a reserve during Day’s two years and a starter on the 1989 team that won the national

cham pionship at Oak Tree CC. His son Ryan is now a starter on the Norman High School team coached by Grost and he and Day have remained close through the years.

“When Glen came to OU, his deal at least the first year was that he didn’t want a scholarship, but he also only wanted to practice when he wanted to,” Bell said. “He only wanted to play if he could beat the other guys in qualifying. And there were days when he didn’t want to (practice).”

Day led the Soon- ers to a runnerup finish in the NCAA Championship as a senior. The following year holdovers Martin, Matthew Lane and Jeff Lee joined with Tripp Davis and Bell to win it all.

Early upon Day’s arrival at OU, Grost sent Day to Houston to see swing instruc- tor Dan Snider, with whom Day works with to this day. Snider re- members Day arrived with empty pockets, but Snider talked him into paying for his lesson by baby- sitting his three kids while he and his wife went to a Rockets game.

“I came home and the kids are running wild through the house and Glen is sound asleep on the sofa,” Snider said. Next day they went out in a rainstorm for their first lesson. Snider asked Day if he still wanted to go through with it and Day replied he had come there to work on the swing. So for the next four hours Day hit balls in the rain under Snider’s tutelage. “I went home and told my wife this kid is going to be successful,” said Snider, a member of the South Central Section Hall of Fame who teaches now out of The Alotian near Little Rock. “He’s got the determination and the work ethic. And he was.” After leading the Sooners to eight wins and finishes of second and third in two NCAA Tournaments, Day was ready for pro golf. He met Jennifer Ralston, daughter of another section Hall of Fame member Bob Ralston, at the Arkansas Open in 1990. The two have been happily married since and their two daughters both went to Ole Miss. No hard feelings.

“Everything in life happens for a reason,” Day said. “I saw Coach Alford at a deal years later. I stuck out my hand and said ‘Coach, I don’t know if you remember me.’ He said, ‘son, I’ve watched your entire career and I am so proud of you.’ “

Day’s father-in-law Bob Ralston worked times in 2020. He is still as competitive as Except for being overly deliberas both a club pro and a touring pro. One ever, though he has changed his approach ate, resulting in his nickname “All of the nicest men you could meet off the through the years. Day,” it would be hard to find many course, his intensity on the course was “Golf is about 98 percent mental,” Day Day critics. And his play seems to have legendary. said. “I’m just approaching the game dif- only gotten stronger of late.

“Harvey Penick was asked what was the ferently in a lot of ways. Later in your “He’s a very intelligent player who best golf swing he ever saw,” Day said. “He life, you’re not so full of testosterone. knows where to hit it and where not to,” said it wasn’t Ben Hogan or Bryon Nelson You’re more relaxed and laid back, I don’t Snider said. “For a long time he had a pheor Sam Snead, it was nomenal short game. this club pro out of Ar- It may not be as good kansas that you prob- now, but his ballstrikably never heard of. He ing has gotten better was talking about Bob.” and better.”

After two years in Day said fans who Asia and a year on attend The Senior PGA the European Tour, Championship will be and armed with a de- amazed at the distance pendable fade that and accuracy of the playkept him consistently ers even into their 60s. in the center of the “They don’t market fairway, Day earned the Champions Tour his PGA Tour card in the way they should, 1994. He stayed out but the product they there consistently un- Gregg Grost Rick Bell Glen, back in the Day put out is just awetil 2010, earning his some,” Day said. “The lone victory at the MCI Classic in 1999. get as upset on the golf course. I’m play- event in Tulsa is going to be great. I can’t He has also played frequently on what is ing the same as I always have. I just ac- wait to see the course and I know a lot of now the Korn Ferry Tour until joining the cept my mistakes lot easier, allowing me folks there including, of course, (head proChampions Tour in 2016, where he fin- to get past a lot of shots and move on to fessional) Cary Cozby and that’s a great ished second twice in 2018 and two more the next one.” OU connection.”

Here shooting stars go ignored, dandelions remain firmly planted, and coins are never flipped because at Montereau, Tulsa’s premier community for older adults, your wish is our command. From the state-of-the-art fitness center to the heated pool and tranquil grounds, our attentive staff has only one mission — to make your every wish a reality.

MONTEREAU — RETIREMENT... AS YOU WISH!