In Focus: UW Golf Finds Itself Through Tough Moment
May 28, 2015 | General, Men's Golf
By Mason Kelley
GoHuskies.com
Washington was in the middle of a tough tournament.
Heading into the final round of the NCAA Bremerton Regional, the Huskies were on the outside looking in. They needed to make up ground in order to secure a spot in the NCAA Finals.
But, after a pair of difficult days, coach Matt Thurmond felt optimistic.
“I've felt for a long time, really all spring, even though we've had some good performances, that we were not firing on all cylinders and we hadn't really found ourselves as a team,” Thurmond said.
He believed his players had an opportunity to find themselves when faced with a difficult moment. So, over the course of the first two days at Gold Mountain Golf Club, Thurmond kept saying, “We need this. We need this.”
The coach was confident the adversity would help the Huskies on the tournament's final day.
Needing to make up four strokes in order to qualify for the season's final tournament, the Huskies went to work.
“They were at the very depths and they rallied together and found a way to get it done,” Thurmond said.
Throughout the early part of the season, Washington played as it if had something to lose. This is a group of golfers dedicated to the process. They are systematic in the way the approach the game.
But, on that final day when the Huskies found a way to earn their 12th trip to the NCAA Finals in 14 years, the program took a more simplified approach to the game as they carved up the course.
“Sometimes you've got to throw all that crap out and say, 'We've just got to go compete,'” Thurmond said
That is exactly what they did.
“They quit worrying about making mistakes and, 'What happens if we don't qualify?' and all that,” he said. “They just said, 'It's do or die, let's go.'”
When the Huskies step on the golf course this week, the goals are simple: Play loose, have fun and attack the course.
But, while it was an impressive enough feat to rally for a spot in this weekend's tournament at The Concession Golf Club in Bradenton, Fla., the confidence gained from the experience will benefit the program as it tries to make a statement against the nation's top teams.
“The way they responded, the confidence they'll have is far better than had we just waltzed through,” Thurmond said. “They finally just said, 'This is us. This is what we've got to do. Let's go do it.'”
When the Huskies step on the golf course this week, the goals are simple: Play loose, have fun and attack the course.
If they follow that formula, success will follow.
Leading the way for the Huskies will be senior Cheng-Tsung Pan, who has been playing some of the best golf of his college career.
He played well in the 2015 PGA Tour Canada Qualifying Tournament before winning the U.S. Open local qualifier at The Home Course in Dupont, Wash. and then the NCAA Bremerton Regional.
His “elite level concentration and focus” provides a model his teammates can follow.
“It's not even close,” Thurmond said. “His mental and emotional maturity out there, he's just so far ahead in that area. He's just in complete command of his mind and body, so that means he's in complete command of his ball, too, and it's cool to watch.”
Pan is at the top of his game heading into his final collegiate tournament. He is leading by example, while enjoying the journey with his teammates.
Washington didn't take the smoothest path to the NCAA Finals, but the Huskies found a way. They used a difficult moment to uncover something special within themselves.
After enduring – and overcoming – adversity, Thurmond's players now believe anything is possible.
Players Mentioned
