Wheeling’s Andrew Bieniek, 8, Already a World Class Golfer

Andrew Bieniek, 8, left, stands alongside a statue of Payne Stewart at the Pinehurst Golf Resort in Pinehurst, North Carolina. Bieniek was there to participate in the U.S. Kids World Golf Championship. (Photo Provided)

WHEELING – Eight-year-old Andrew Bieniek got his first taste of golf just five years ago – when he was 3 – when his parents bought him a set of Fisher Price golf clubs.

Two weeks ago, he got to play in the U.S. Kids Golf Foundation World Championship at the Mid Pine Golf Course near the famous Pinehurst Golf Course in Pinehurst, North Carolina. He was one of 105 youths from all over the world qualifying in the 8-year-old bracket, and he came in fifth place.

His high placement gets him an automatic invite to the 2025 world championship.

“I’ve been swinging a club since I was 3,” Bieniek said. “Then my dad and I would go play the Par 3 (course at Oglebay). Then I got into competitive golf.”

Andrew Bieniek is starting in third grade at Woodsdale Elementary School. He is the son of Steven Bieniek, the business manager for Ohio County Schools, and Michelle Bieniek, a teacher at John Marshall High School.

Steven Bieniek noted that Andrew first started playing in U.S. Kids Golf Foundation tournaments when he was 5. It is the largest golf association for youngsters, and has events for children ages 5-12.

The young golfers compete in brackets alongside others the same age.

“He competed in a local tour last summer, and was the winner in the age 7 bracket,” Steven Bieniek said. “There were six tournaments all in the Pittsburgh area. They were all about an hour and a half away.

“The win qualified him to get an invitation to the world tournament.”

One of the events at the tournament is the “Parade of Nations” similar to the Olympics opening ceremonies where competitors march representing their country or state. Bieniek was one of three golfers from West Virginia. Alongside him were Bentley Shirkey, 12, from Barboursville, and Brooks Potter, 9, from South Charleston.

Andrew has long since moved past the Fisher Price golf clubs. Today he uses a Callaway driver, a Taylor Made putter and U.S. Kids irons.

But the Fisher Price clubs likely will always have a place in the closet, according to his father.

“I don’t think we’ll ever throw those away,” Steven Bieniek said.

PGA players Collin Morikawa and Scottie Scheffler are among those who got their start with U.S. Kids Golf.

“I like to play golf with my dad, and with my friends,” Andrew Bieniek said. “I play baseball, hockey and basketball. They’re fun, but golf is my favorite.

“If there’s a baseball game and a golf tournament at the same time, I’m going to golf.”

Steven Bieniek added playing athletics should be about the fun for Andrew.

“I told him the minute it was not fun would be the time to stop,” he said. “To Andrew’s credit, when he has a bad shot, he doesn’t pout. He knows the most important shot is the next shot.

“He took the attitude he is just going to have fun, and I think that’s why he has been successful.”

Andrew practices “not every day, but close to it,” Steven Bieniek continued.

“We go to the driving range, or go to Speidel (golf course at Oglebay Park). If he is not practicing, he is probably playing,” he said.

“Oglebay is awesome with junior golfers. They pretty much let him play or practice for next to nothing. We can’t be more thankful to the pros and everybody that works at Oglebay. I don’t think Andrew would be where he is today without Oglebay.”

The younger Bieniek agreed.

“Without Oglebay, I would still be in my house,” Andrew said.

Golf has also brought Andrew an international experience he might not otherwise have had, according to his father.

“What makes this cool is he has made friends and played golf with kids from all over the world and the U.S.,” Steven Bieniek said. “We keep track. This year he has played golf with kids from Thailand, Mexico, Barbados, Seattle, Los Angeles, Florida, Georgia and Tennessee. He has also played with friends he had made from Ohio and Pennsylvania.

“I don’t know about you, but I didn’t know anybody from Thailand when I was 8. The fact he plays golf with them is pretty cool to me,” Steven Bieniek said.