(WWJ) -- When it comes to a family's legacy, it no doubt can put pressure on any individual to follow in either their parents' or siblings' footsteps.
You would never know that with Max and Ryan O'Rourke of Walled Lake Northern High School.
Both brothers are on the Knights' golf team, with Max, a senior, set to head to Wayne State on a golfing scholarship next year, and Ryan just beginning his journey as a freshman this spring.
The elder O'Rourke has quite the accolade list.
"Sophomore year I was the first Walled Lake athlete -- from all three high schools, Central, Northern and Western -- to qualify for the state championship in 16 years," he told WWJ sports anchor Ryan Wooley. "Last year our team together was the first Walled Lake All-State Academic Team. So what that means is that our team overall had higher than a 3.5 GPA with all five guys, and I personally held a 4.2 GPA to kind of help support and lead the charge."
In addition to that, Max has also been playing on the varsity team since his freshman year and was named one of the team's first-ever junior captains last year. He was named a captain again for his senior season this spring.
Ryan comes in highly decorated as well -- he, too holds a 4.0 GPA and entered school after winning the 15-u division of the Michigan Junior State Amateur. He is the reigning Golf Association of Michigan's 15-u Junior Boys' Player of the Year.
"I had the most total cumulative points compared to all the other kids that played against me. That means I played in more tournaments and won more tournaments than them," Ryan O'Rourke said.
Naturally, you'd think with Max being older than Ryan and having more experience, it would create a sibling rivalry between the two, but their mom Carrie says that's the furthest thing from the truth.
"Max is Ryan's biggest cheerleader and Ryan is Max's biggest cheerleader," she said. "And even when they're playing against each other, when one of them finishes, the first thing they say is 'how's my brother doing?"
But golf and a 4.0 GPA isn't the only thing the two brothers share, as Max not only volunteers his time with the Oakland County Special Olympics and is a tutor for the National Honor Society. Both brothers work at TGA Premier Golf, which Ryan says to help shape the younger generation's view on the game.
"It's an organization where they go to elementary schools and teach little kids, kindergarten to fifth grade, all the proper etiquette for golf and all the basics for golf," the younger O'Rourke said.
Their dad Marc says with or without all the success they've had over the years, he couldn't be more proud of what they've accomplished.
"They've started to see success. They've watched the hard work that they put in pay off and I think those values are things that are going to help them be successful for the rest of their lives," he said.
The MHSAA golf season officially starts March 16 as the O'Rourke brothers will try to help lead Walled Lake Northern to new heights.
