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Sacramento's Cameron Champ wins first pro golf event

Mack Champ, 77, has a lot to smile about this week as his 23-year-old grandson, Cameron, is coming off his first professional win on the Web.com Tour in Utah.

Mack Champ's laugh is just as infectious as it was when ABC10 first met him in 2001. The 77-year-old has a lot to smile about this week as his 23-year-old grandson, Cameron Champ, is coming off his first professional win on the Web.com Tour in Utah.

"It's a great feeling. I can't describe this feeling because it goes way back, you know," Mack said. "When I was a little boy, I used to caddy when I was six and seven years old, when I couldn't play. And now I see my grandson on national TV and this is all over the world. It's such a good example for a lot of kids. It's not where you come from, but it's where you're going and you just have to keep excelling."

With the win, Cameron, a Sacramento native, earns his first PGA Tour Card to play among the biggest names in golf next year in addition to $126,000. The prize money brings Cameron's total earnings this year to nearly $250,000. After finishing at -24 on the tournament, holding on to a one-stroke lead, an emotional Cameron hugged his father, Jeff, in celebration.

"That's the first time I saw him cry and holding his dad," Mack said fighting back tears. "I bet the first thing (Cameron) would tell me was that he wishes grandma was here because they were so close."

Mack remembers he and his late wife, Lulu, buying plastic golf clubs for Cameron from a Sacramento Toys-R-Us store when he was just 18 months old.

"And that's when it all started. In the backyard right there," Mack said.

Cameron has gone from his backyard in North Highlands to Texas A&M where he was playing golf at the collegiate level and soon he'll be on golf's biggest stage. Mack will be watching and mentoring his grandson every step of the way as he continues to make a name for himself as a pro.

"It just shows you if you just aim for the stars you don't know where we land," Mack said.

Follow the conversation with Lina Washington on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. You can email Lina Washington at LWashington@abc10.com.

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