Now Mark Lawrence Sr. knows how it feels to be on both sides of the hyphen in a father-son golf championship.

Mark was the "son" as he and his dad, Walter Lawrence, won the Tommy Galloway Father-Son Tournament for the first time in 1974.

The duo of Walter Lawrence-Mark Lawrence would tack on Galloway crowns in'76,'79 and'85.

Earlier this month, Lawrence was cast in the role of "father" in combining with his son, 11-year-old Mark Jr., for the most recent Galloway overall crown.

Mark Sr.-Mark Jr. prevailed with a 5-under 67 at Hermitage Country Club (their home course), low-balling a statewide field of 220.

"I was extremely nervous," explained the elder Mark Lawrence, manager of Airport Chrysler-Jeep. "I knew what it meant to him, and he knew what it meant to me."

Mark Sr. becomes the first to win the Galloway - now in its 67th year - as a father and a son. Also, Mark Jr. is the youngest son champion.

Background check: Mark Sr., an ex-University of Maryland golfer, was State Amateur champ in 1980 and a U.S. Open amateur qualifier in 1981.

Walter Lawrence, a one-time State Intercollegiate champ at William and Mary and a State Amateur runner-up, now resides in Michigan.

Budding star: Mark Jr. already is 5-6, 135 pounds and driving the ball near 250 yards. He has won five individual tournaments and placed second in another this season.

"Mark's been swinging a club since he was 3," Mark Sr. said

A rising sixth-grader at Pocahontas Middle (residing in the Mills Godwin High School district), Mark Jr. has won the State Junior for his age the past two years.

"Mark is very long for his age, consistent and level headed," HCC pro Rocky Fryar said. "He's also a super nice kid, which is a bonus."

Strategy: Due to his age, Mark Jr. was allowed to drive from the green/ladies' tees for the Galloway.

Using an alternating-shot format, Mark Jr. was the "designated driver" for the tourney.

"Usually I didn't even bother to hit a drive," Mark Sr. said

Said Fryar, "Mark Jr.'s drives gave Mark Sr. a wedge or 9-iron to the green, and he's very strong at that . . . then Mark Jr. putted and he's too young to be afraid of a putt."

Head-to-head: So who would prevail in a Mark Sr. vs. Mark Jr. showdown for family bragging rights?

"From the same tee box, I'd still get him," said Mark Sr., a scratch golfer. "But Mark shot a 2-under 70 three weeks ago . . . from the whites."

While father/son rule the fairways and greens, Mark Sr. confesses that Mrs. Lawrence (Kathy) has the upper hand at their Short Pump home.

Mark Sr. explains:

"When Kathy calls 'Mark,' we both answer."