The Oregon State men’s golf team competes in the NCAA Championships today-Friday. If the Beavers are in the top eight after three rounds, they go into a match-play tournament.
“You would love to say we are going to win,” coach Brian Watts said. “We are going to try, but now we are inside the ropes. It’s going to be like a (PGA) tour event. The biggest thing for these young men is to not get distracted with everything else with what’s going outside the golf course. At this point there’s nothing I can do to teach them to change the game. It’s all about what’s between the ears that make the difference.”
The Beavers have been a strong mental team of late, which is the reason for their breakthrough to this level after four years of ended the season at the regional.
Read more about how the Beavers have developed mentally with an unconventional approach in my Tuesday story in the GT.
“We had our goals, and we met all our expectations so far,” Watts said. “Going into the national championships, we have expectations, but for us it’s another tournament. I’m going to make sure the guys are relaxed and having fun.”
The Beavers are not favored, but they are playing their best golf at the end of the season. So, we’ll see what they can do.
“We knew from the beginning of the season we had mature and deep team,” senior Diego Velasquez said. “We knew we had a shot. We knew this was the year. But actually being in it, it feels really good. It’s cool to be a senior and finish a season and collegiate career at nationals.”
