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'Dr. V' from the tee
By Cheryl Heitzman
Collegian Reporter
Chris VanOrman, affectionately known as Dr.
V, professor of chemistry, is infamous for his fondness for
blowing things up. But a little known fact about VanOrman is
that he likes to tee things off too.
VanOrman and senior Chris Falkiewicz have
been conducting their research meetings on the links on every
nice day for this whole year. Friday was the latest installment
on the golf course for the duo, but this time, only for pleasure.
"We come out here and discuss what we
have to do in the next week," Falkiewicz said. "Sometimes
we even drag Luke out here."
Senior Lucas Gates is also a part of their
research team, and is often the butt of their jokes. In one
such incident, VanOrman gave Gates a rigged ball at the driving
range.
"I saw a crack in the ball, and afterwards
it occurred to me that it had been dipped in liquid nitrogen
and broken in half," Gates said. "It broke in two
on contact, and the two pieces flew about 30 feet."
On a perfect day for golf, VanOrman hoped
to lower his score a bit at White Oaks Golf Club. He said he
has shot an average of 44 so far this season.
On the path from the twelfth tee box to his
next shot, VanOrman explained his love of the game.
"I just like being outside," he said with a smile.
"I like the people I'm with, and if I play good golf, well,
it's just that much better."
He began playing in 1986 but became serious
about improving his game in graduate school at Case Western
Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio.
"My buddy and I would meet at dawn and
play nine, then we'd go do our research," he said. "I
really started playing when I had money and a job."
His passion for the game was evident from
his faded navy cap. Though it was only a year old, it could
have been Arnold Palmer's hat from his first Masters.
The tranquility of the outing was disrupted
for a bit after teeing off on the 13th. Falkiewicz's drive sliced,
and as we walked through the dead cattails, he spotted a snake.
In a ravishing display of masculinity, Falkiewicz ran out of
the weeds.
Laughs pealed across the course as VanOrman
imitated Falkiewicz, flapping his arms and running like a girl.
After a good laugh and zigzagging across the
next few holes, Falkiewicz redeemed himself, chipping in for
a birdie on the 17th.
Though VanOrman ended the outing with a bogey,
he said he still really enjoyed himself.
"You just have to have fun," he
said. "It's nice when you're not pushed and you don't have
to hurry. Sometimes you can hit two."
VanOrman has passed his love for the game
to his children, Sarah, 10, and Zach, 9, who have their own
sets of clubs. Even his wife, Laurie, likes to hit the links
with him.
"I let them play all the way through
on par threes and short par fours, and on par fives, they hit
from where my first drive hits," he said. "There's
no pressure, and we just have a great time together."
In fact, Laurie had such a great time on the
course with VanOrman and the kids, he said, that she agreed
to retire to a golf course in Florida in about 20 years.
VanOrman plans to spend his retirement working
hard on his golf game, and his ultimate goal would be to make
the Senior Professional Golf Association tour, he said with
a sheepish grin.
"I know it's farfetched, but I
enjoy being out there under the beautiful sun," he said.
"There's just something about being outside."
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