Thursday afternoon Cochran will make yet another trip around the course he regards as a second home -- this time battling through a tournament against professionals, some of whom are just a few seasons away from a shot at the PGA.
"It probably won't seem real until I start playing," Cochran said. "I'm looking forward to it, but this is definitely the strongest field I've ever played in."
Cochran, 20, is one of a handful of locals who will compete in this week's Charter Childhood Cancer Awareness Classic, an event featured on the National Golf Association's Hooters Professional Golf Tour.
Cochran, Murrayville's Josh Bunch and Dawsonville's Blake Palmer each put up strong enough scores in Monday's qualifying round to earn a spot in the four-day tournament. The trio will join Rodger Hogan (head pro at Chattahoochee) and Nathan Rau of Cumming as area competitors hoping to show they can run with some of the game's best up-and-coming professionals -- the NGA/Hooters is the nation's third largest tour behind the PGA and Nationwide -- and each believes they can do so.
"I expect to compete and finish in the top 10 or 20," said Bunch, who has competed in numerous NGA/Hooters events and finished inside the top 20. "I expect to have a shot."
Bunch -- who holds the course record at Chattahoochee (62) -- ended last year's NGA/Hooters event at Chattahoochee in a tie for 27th place, finishing five-under over four days.
"I think it might be a little more difficult than last year," said Bunch, 30. "The greens are a bit more firm, and the way this course is, they can make any hole hard or easy depending on where they place the holes."
Cochran certainly expects Chattahoochee's greens to play a key role in this week's final scores.
"I know the greenskeeper here, and he says that by Sunday it will be like putting on a pool table out there -- pretty slick," said Cochran, who hopes that his countless rounds on the course will give him an edge.
"I definitely have more knowledge of this course than a lot of the other players here; I've been out here it seems like every day for the last five years," Cochran said. "I don't know if that will give me an advantage, but it can't hurt."
At this point, Cochran is just excited at the prospect of a competitive round -- no matter where it comes.
After a short stint playing golf for Wallace State Community College in Alabama, Cochran returned home in December and has since been taking private coaching and working each day on improving his game.
"I learned a lot at Wallace State, and I don't want to say that college golf isn't for me, but at the time it wasn't," Cochran said. "Right now I'm working with a coach (Ben English) who knows his stuff, and I keep getting better."
Now, Cochran will get a chance to test himself against a strong field that features several players that have already enjoyed plenty of professional success -- including Florida resident Ted Potter, who has already won twice on the NGA/Hooters Tour this season (earning $64,087.50 in the process).
"The guys out here are so methodical," said Cochran, who will play as an amateur in the event. "They're so consistent. If they're 10 feet or closer in, they won't miss."
Bunch, who has plenty of experience at this level, believes the biggest difference between some of the NGA/Hooters golfers and those on the PGA Tour is simply timing.
"The top 10 guys on this tour can play anywhere," Bunch said. "There's 150 slots on the PGA and there are 800 guys out there that can probably play at that level. The difference is that those 150 guys did it at the right time.
"If you watch these guys -- if you watch me out there and then watch (PGA Tour star) Phil Mickelson, there's not a big difference to the naked eye. The biggest difference is that Phil has done it when it matters."
Those area golfers competing this week will hope that time for them is now -- even the amateur Cochran.
"I expect to go out there and do well," Cochran said. "First I just want to make the cut, but I'd love to be out there on Sunday in contention. That would be incredible."
As for the long term?
"Maybe, if I keep getting better, in three or four years I'll be playing on this tour, but right now I'm not consistent enough," said Cochran, who says his ultimate goal is making the PGA. "It's something I'm shooting for. You can't make a dream come true if you don't try."
NOTE: Thursday's Tee Times for Area competitors at this weekend's Charter Childhood Cancer Awareness Classic at Chattahoochee Golf Club in Gainesville:
(Listed in order from earliest to latest, with starting hole)
Justin Cochran, 1:33 p.m., No. 10
Blake Palmer, 1:51 p.m., No. 1
Josh Bunch, 2 p.m., No. 10
Nathan Rau, 2 p.m., No. 10
Rodger Hogan, 2:09 p.m., No. 10
Justin Cochran
Josh Bunch
http://accesswdun.com/article/2011/3/237282