10 Questions with Men's Golfer Michael Lawrence
9/17/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
Sept. 17, 2008
SPARTANBURG, S.C. - Upstate junior golfer, Michael Lawrence, looks forward to another breakout season for the Spartans. As a freshman, he played in all the spring tournaments and claimed four "Top 20" finishes. He finished sixth at the Buccaneer Invitational after shooting a career-low 69 in the final round and also finished 15th in the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional.
In his sophomore year and his first year competing in Division I, Lawrence claimed the first-place individual title at the Rutgers Invitational. Last season, he had a 74.8 stroke average for the 12 tournaments he competed in. The Easley, S.C., native looks to be a crucial performer in the team's play this season also.
Recently, Lawrence sat down with Sarah Hurd of upstatespartans.com, to discuss his experiences with USC Upstate golf and what he anticipates for the 2008-2009 season.
Did you always know that you wanted to play golf in college? When did you first start playing?
Yes, my dad is a professional golfer and I grew up following him around and going to courses with him. He played golf at Clemson and after hearing about some of his experiences, I knew that I wanted to play college golf. I started playing when I was 10.
You guys opened your season with a second-place finish of 24 teams at the Rutgers Invitational this past weekend. Judging by the first performance, what are your thoughts about this year's team?
I think we're just as strong as last year. We were in a good spot to win at Rutgers but second-place is never bad. The freshmen are stepping it up this year and I think we have a good chance to win some big tournaments.
You finished first in the Rutgers Invitational last year. Did that impact the way you looked at the tournament this year?
Yea, it was fun going back and seeing the course. Obviously, I wanted to get back and defend. I played alright. I had a really good first round though my second-round wasn't as strong. The whole team had a good time going back up there.
What has been your favorite course to play on in your experience here at USC Upstate and why?
My favorite course is probably The Meadows up in Michigan where we played the Division II National Championships. Playing in a national championship tournament is always exciting and the course was set up like a tour course. The greens were fast, the rough was tall. We played well as team, which made the experience all the more memorable.
Who is your favorite professional golfer and why?
Tiger Woods, just because he's the best. He is unreal, especially after winning the PGA tour with his leg injury. He's such a competitor and he'll probably go down as one of the greatest ever.
What are your goals for the upcoming season?
I want the team to win. If I win a tournament, that's great, but really I'm all about the team. I want our team to do well and win every tournament. I think everyone feels the same way on the team. I want to go out, play well, have fun and get some big wins.
Todd Lawton coaches both the men's and women's golf teams here at Upstate. What is the relationship like between the two teams?
We have a strong relationship. We go out and support one another, since we all understand the focus and discipline that is necessary in the sport. We all get along really well and we've been together for a few years now. We're traveling this weekend together and we're looking forward to it.
If you weren't a collegiate golfer, is there any other sport you would consider participating in?
I enjoy playing all sports, but I'd have to say basketball. I grew up playing basketball but I didn't think I was tall enough to play in college.
What advice would you give to younger athletes who aspire to play collegiate golf?
Just have fun. Many kids worry about what school they need to go to. In the long run, it doesn't matter where you play as long as you enjoy the game and have a good time at school. I think that's the most important thing.
What is your top athletic moment here at USC Upstate so far?
Finishing in second-place at the Division-II National Championships in Michigan my freshman year. It came down to the last shot for the other team. All our guys were standing behind the green just hoping he would three-put. He ended up two-putting and they won. It was heartbreaking when we were there because we were all speechless and didn't know what to say. Most people wouldn't consider that the greatest moment, but after the fact, everyone started to realize what we had accomplished. Finishing second at the Tournament up in Michigan was a huge success for the team and school.
