At left, Andrew Bieniek, 8, stands next to a statue of Payne Stewart at Pinehurst Golf Resort in Pinehurst, N.C. Bieniek was there to take part in the U.S. Kids World Golf Championship. (Courtesy photo)
WHEELING – Eight-year-old Andrew Bieniec's first experience with golf came just five years ago, when his parents bought him a set of Fisher-Price golf clubs at age 3.
Two weeks ago, he competed in the U.S. Kids Golf Foundation World Championship at Mid Pine Golf Course near the famed Pinehurst Golf Course in Pinehurst, N.C. He was one of 105 youngsters from around the world who qualified in the 8-year-old division and finished in fifth place.
The top finish earns him an automatic invitation to the 2025 World Championships.
“I've been swinging a club since I was 3 years old,” Bieniec said, “and then I played Par 3 (at Oglebay) with my dad. Then I got into competitive golf.”
Andrew Bieniek, a third-grader at Woodsdale Elementary School, is the son of Steven Bieniek, business manager for Ohio County Schools, and Michelle Bieniek, a teacher at John Marshall High School.
Stephen Bieniek said Andrew first participated in a tournament at age 5 with the U.S. Kids Golf Foundation, the largest youth golf association and hosting events for kids ages 5 to 12.
Young golfers compete in groups with others their own age.
“He played on the local tour last summer and won the 7-year-old division,” Steven Bieniec said. “All six tournaments were in the Pittsburgh area, all about an hour and a half away.”
“With this victory, he is now eligible to receive an invitation to the world championships.”
One of the events at the tournament was the “Parade of Nations,” which is similar to the Olympic opening ceremony, with competitors marching to represent their countries and states. Bieniek was one of three golfers from West Virginia. Next to him were 12-year-old Bentley Sharkey from Barboursville and 9-year-old Brooks Potter from South Charleston.
Andrew has been using Fisher-Price golf clubs for a long time and currently plays Callaway drivers, TaylorMade putters and US Kids irons.
But his father said the Fisher-Price clubs will probably stay in the closet forever.
“I don't think we're going to throw these away,” Steven Bieniec said.
PGA players Collin Morikawa and Scottie Scheffler are among those who began their careers with U.S. Kids Golf.
“I like to play golf with my dad and friends,” Andrew Bieniec said. “I also play baseball, hockey and basketball. They're all fun, but golf is my favorite.”
“If there's a baseball game and a golf tournament going on at the same time, I'm going to go golfing.”
Steven Bieniec added that for Andrew, athletics should be something to enjoy.
“I tell him the moment it's no longer fun to stop,” he said. “To Andrew's credit, he doesn't sulk when a shot doesn't go his way. He knows the most important shot is the next one.”
“He just had that attitude of wanting to have fun, and I think that's why he was so successful.”
Andrew practices “almost every day, if not every day,” Steven Bieniek continued.
“We go to the driving range, we go to Spiedel (Golf Course at Oglebay Park). When we're not practicing, we're probably playing,” he said.
“Oglebay is very kind to junior golfers. They let him play and practice for next to nothing. We're grateful to the pros and everyone who works at Oglebay. I don't think Andrew would be in the position he is now without Oglebay.”
The younger Bieniek agreed.
“If it weren't for Oglebay, I'd still be at home,” Andrew said.
According to his father, golf has given Andrew international experience he might not have had otherwise.
“The cool thing is he's made friends and played golf with kids from all over the world, even kids from the United States,” Steven Bieniec said. “We keep track of it. This year he's played golf with kids from Thailand, Mexico, Barbados, Seattle, Los Angeles, Florida, Georgia and Tennessee. He's also played with friends he's made in Ohio and Pennsylvania.”
“I don't know about you guys, but when I was 8 years old, I didn't know any Thai people, so the fact that he's playing golf with them is pretty amazing to me,” Steven Bieniek said.
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