Shortly after the first few drops of a three-day deluge fell, it was all too clear that the rain was not only taking the firm and fast Prairie Dunes everyone had prepared for. It was also taking away the chance Aggie golfers had been striving for along with it. As the fourth day and third round of the NCAA Championships came to a close for the A&M Men’s golf team, it would have been all too easy to wonder what could have been? Golf, as you likely well know, is a game that constantly forces you to focus on the next shot, the only one you have any control over. Dwelling on the last one is only as useful as you allow it to be. Let it occupy your mind for too long and you will never recover, allowing yourself to learn from it in order to better your next effort, however, is critical in any success you hope to find on a golf course.
As is the case with this group of young Aggies when it comes to the time spent on the 2014 edition of the national championship. While the clouds may have darkened the chances that this team had of bringing home a title, it could very likely prove to be the start of a new slate in Aggie golf history. With a recruiting class full of powerful, youthful, potential arriving in Aggieland this fall and four parts of the current championship roster returning with more perspective than they had hoped to acquire, the future could be blue skies moving forward.
Texas A&M Media Relations
Sophomore golfer Ben Crancer.
}There is no shying away from the fact that this showing was a disappointing ending to what seemed like a promising trend upward for this group’s season. After claiming a share of the Aggie Invite title at home and advancing to the promised land for the 7th time in as many years, the hopes were high that the beauty of match play that so narrowly escaped our grasp a year ago was waiting to greet us at the end of 54 holes.
Too many big numbers and a lack of any chance to build momentum in a positive direction, due in large part to the constant rain delays that prevented 18 holes ever being consecutively completed, ensured that door was slammed into our faces before we ever got to look inside. With a field as strong as any in recent years, we had to bring the best of each player’s potential to grasp one of eight golden tickets. After an opening round of 16 over par, that task would take all of that and more, and in the end proved to be too much to overcome. While we left Kansas far short of obtaining the goal, this team is not as far off as the scores would lead you to believe.
When August rolls around and the newest collection of golfers lucky enough to call themselves Fightin' Texas Aggies take to the course, there will be one target in each of their minds. With an established roster of returning individuals and as talented an incoming class as College Station has ever seen, that bulls-eye will be targeted with accuracy of a well-trained assassin. After snapping the nations longest streak of top 15 finishes at nationals, fans can rest assured that this team will not rest on their previous laurels. They are well aware of what is going to be expected of them and with each range ball pounded into the abyss; they will be working to get there.
As deflating as waking up at 4:45 for four consecutive days, only to watch your score climb higher each round can be. Nothing can awaken your senses like a swift jab to the face. And make no mistake about it that is exactly what this was. But as Ben Crenshaw once said “I have a good feeling about this.”
If you are a fan of Aggie golf, you should too.
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