When the starter on the first hole at the Sony Open in Hawai'i makes the public introduction, it is officially "Parker McLachlin from Honolulu, Hawai'i ..."

But around the pro shop, cart barn and elsewhere behind the scenes at Waialae Country Club, they know him simply as "the kid" and "Park." And, despite his 26 years, for those who go back far enough, McLachlin said, "the shrimp."

Because, before he was dropping in six birdie putts on the way to a 5-under-par 65 yesterday that put him at 2-under 208, there were years of cleaning toilets, vacuuming the pro shop, scrubbing carts and doing odd jobs.

Long before there were TV camera crews hovering to ask about that 25-foot putt on No. 17 or a crowd waiting to shake his hand after finishing with three consecutive birdies, McLachlin worked Waialae for minimum wage.

Not for the money so much, but for something he prized even more: The opportunity to get late-afternoon playing privileges. It was a chance to knock down putts in the fading light on the putting green and, in "Caddyshack"-like fashion, pretend he was playing in the hometown Hawaiian Open, Sony's predecessor.

In the 1980s and '90s, when Greg Nichols was head pro at Waialae, he would run clinics for young juniors and offer part-time employment to the older ones. "A lot of kids came and went over the years," Nichols recalls. "But Parker kept coming back."

From the time Parker was 9 through summer breaks from UCLA, the McLachlins knew where to find their eldest son when he got the chance. "He was just so fascinated by everything about golf he'd do whatever you wanted him to do," Nichols said.

"I know what the insides of all the toilets look like," McLachlin said.

When McLachlin did get out on the course in slack time and evenings, "I appreciated it and enjoyed it and looked at every blade of grass."

Waialae was where he found his calling, where he began his path and even where he met and caddied for Scott Simpson, the former PGA pro who is carrying McLachlin's bag this weekend.

Now that golf has become his profession after a Q-school stint that earned him a Nationwide Tour card — just missing the PGA Tour — there was little doubt, McLachlin would be back knocking at Waialae's gates. Or that, even when he was turned down for a sponsor's exemption, he would somehow find a way inside. In this case, earning a spot through the Monday qualifying round.

And when McLachlin uncharacteristically struggled with his putting earlier in the week, Nichols didn't have to go into much technical explanation. All his mentor had to do, McLachlin said, was remind him, " 'This is your home course, man. Remember putting on that putting green, spending hours and hours until we couldn't see anymore?' "

McLachlin remembered. And, so, too, do those who knew him back when. "A lot of people here saw me grow up and there are some guys who are still around," McLachlin said. "Some are real excited for me and some are, like, 'You're still a grommet like you always were. I remember you when you were a little shrimp.' "

And, "the shrimp" takes it with a smile and his usual humility because he says, "I wouldn't be where I am without the opportunity to practice and play out here."

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8044.