After a great winter break in the snow, I was eager to get back on the golf course. Our first tournament took place in sunny (but windy!) Florida at the beginning of February. After a mediocre, but solid first day with scores of 74, 72 I headed onto the course on the second day determined to snatch a top 5. I got hot and fired a bogey-free five-under 67 final round, which included an eagle. My total of -3 secured me a 4th place finish. From a team perspective, we soared ahead and won the tournament by 15 shots, which incidentally is the largest winning margin in the tournament's history.
With high morale after our victory, we headed to an even windier Kiawah Island Ocean Course. After a solid 71 opening round on the 2021 PGA Championship Course, I stumbled home with a disappointing 79 in the windy conditions in the afternoon. CSU held up pretty well however, and we were positioned 3rd as team after the first day. After a treacherous 7 hour first 15 holes on the final day, including two lengthy rain delays, the tournament committee decided to call the day, due to inclement darkness. I would have liked to finish, since I was actually playing well in the final round, however the two-round results stood.
Next up was a stop at the pristine Augusta National Golf Club. It was just as great of an experience the second time round as it was the first time! The very next week Columbus State Men's Golf travelled to the Kornferry Tour Course, Kinderlou Forest Country Club in Valdosta, Georgia. After a slow start once again of 74, I made use of "moving day" with a 1-under 71. In the final round I got off to a good start and before I knew I was -6 for the round through 11 holes! Two bogeys coming in slowed me down a little, but my final round 68 propelled me to the 2nd place and my first podium finish in a college event! For CSU it wasn't quite enough in the end to leave victorious, but a 2nd place finish boosted our national rankings once again.
Unfortunately the developments of the COVID-19 brought an abrupt halt to a stellar Spring season for the team and myself. On the bright side, these decisions by the NCAA allowed all Spring season athletes another year of athletic eligibility. Looking back at the statistics of the season, I ended up 19th on the Golfstat Division II National Rankings and earned myself a spot on the All-Peachbelt Conference First Team. Columbus State ended 3rd in the pursuit of a National Championship.
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