It has been some kind of three weeks for Christian Brand.
The former Capital and Marshall standout and two-time West Virginia Open champion has earned back-to-back T-17 finishes in the last two Web.com Tour events and, by virtue of finishing in the top 25 last week, earned a spot again this week into the Rust-Oleum Championship in Ivanhoe, Illinois.
But possibly even bigger, Brand was awarded one of four unrestricted sponsor exemptions into the Greenbrier Classic, marking the second time he has competed in the PGA Tour event. Brand also played in the Classic in 2011 after winning the West Virginia Amateur and got the corresponding exemption that year.
Brand missed the cut in 2011, finishing 11 over par, but he's on one of the best runs of his professional career right now and said he's looking forward to a chance to play at the highest level in front of family and friends once again.
"I just have always been an advocate for our state, sometimes it gets a bad rap," Brand said. "The Old White [TPC] is one of my favorite courses and I'll be excited to see what kind of minor tweaks and upgrades they've made. It's exciting to see what is different and to be in a familiar place. The best part about it will be playing in front of my family and friends and giving the proud people of West Virginia something to cheer for."
The 29-year-old Charleston native is trying to do that now out on the road. Brand won a SwingThoughtTour event to earn his way into the field of the BMW Charity Pro-Am from May 18-21. After his back-to-back finishes of 17th, he's risen from the bottom to 105th on the Web.com money list, bringing home a combined $15,377 in his last two tournaments.
But while top 25s and earning berths into more tournaments is all well and good, Brand said he doesn't feel any pressure with his focus aimed much higher than just surviving week to week.
"To be honest with you, I'm trying to win every week," Brand said. "I have the ability and the mindset. Last week, we were in the second-to-last group and that was a good experience. You get yourself a chance on Sunday and that's all I'm asking for. I'm going to try to do the same this week. The top 25 doesn't really matter, I'm playing my game and stacking them up at the end."
John Daly and reigning Amateur champion Alan Cooke have secured two of the other four unrestricted exemptions. Another is usually given to the Haskins Award winner, given to the top college golfer, which has yet to be presented in 2017.
A little closer to home, a pair of contenders will not be in the field for the West Virginia Amateur which begins on Monday on the Cobb Course at Glade Springs.
Huntington's Pat Carter, a 13-time champion of the event, won't play this year because of work commitments, and Bridgeport's Mason Williams, the WVGA's Junior Match Play champion and 2015 high school state champion, won't either.
Williams had been especially hot of late, winning the Junior Match Play on Sunday, May 14 and earning the second of two qualifying spots in a U.S. Open Local Qualifier held at Pete Dye Golf Club in Bridgeport the next day.
The rising senior who finished tied for 15th in last year's State Amateur will instead play in the Southern Junior Championship, scheduled to take place in Alexander City, Alabama next Tuesday through Thursday.
"Mason has been on a great roll, but he informed us [Monday] night that he was withdrawing from the Amateur," WVGA executive director Brad Ullman explained. "I told him that if he has that opportunity, by all means go do it. You're only a junior once and the Amateur will always be here. I'm glad to see him making that decision."
As for Carter, while it is less than ideal to not have one of the great ambassadors of West Virginia golf and the second-winningest player in the history of the event behind only William C. Campbell, Ullman said it's just another reminder of the amateur part of the event.
"These guys are amateurs, they have actual jobs," Ullman said. "He had some responsibilities with his job and, unfortunately, he won't be able to participate, but we certainly understand."
Daniels' Ed McCall earned low round of the day with a 1-over-par 72 Tuesday at Fountain Springs Golf Course in Peterstown as part of the WVGA Senior Series.
Timmy Mount of Huntington had the low gross mark with a 74 with Spot Leach of Shady Spring firing a 73 to win the Gold Division, posting a score 16 shots lower than his age.
The Series will continue at Canaan Valley on June 20.
The Callaway Junior Tour also made a stop on Tuesday, with Ryan Bilby of Follansbee taking home low round of the day with a 73 at Marietta Country Club in Marietta, Ohio. Olivia Hart of Hurricane had the girls low round with a 92.
Contact Ryan Pritt at 304-348-7948 or ryan.pritt@wvgazettemail.com. Follow him on Twitter @rpritt.