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From an unassuming young man that hailed from Totland Bay, England, to a student-athlete brimming with the potential to do great things once he graduates. In short, that could describe University of South Carolina Aiken All-American golfer Brandon Robinson-Thompson.
Unassuming and unaware of how good he could be and where he could flourish as a golfer, Robinson-Thompson did not know he could play golf in the United States until a friend told him about it as she was recruited to play in Arizona. Until then, he had never dreamed of being a student-athlete. However, after it was mentioned to him, Robinson-Thompson decided he wanted to take the road less traveled.
“After making the decision I wanted to be a student-athlete, I took a full year off of school in order to prepare,” Robinson-Thompson stated. During that year, I worked full time at a hotel/resort, working 40-plus hours a week.”
In 2011, he went through an agency that helped him find a school in the United States. Robinson-Thompson connected with an NAIA school, Morningside, which was located in Iowa.
“The coach and I got along great and he was the main reason I went to the school,” Robinson-Thompson said.
He knew that he couldn’t last at the school due to the climate, which was a drastic change from his home country. However, he stuck through it for two seasons and the coach helped him find a school that would help him flourish.
“I knew that I could be pretty good, but I was also intimidated coming to USC Aiken,” Robinson-Thompson mentioned. “The school has so much history that it was a bit overwhelming.”
Robinson-Thompson qualified for the season-opening tournament and played well the first couple of rounds against solid competition. After the first couple of events, he knew that he belonged at USC Aiken.
“Playing at the Firestone Invitational in my first semester was when I really believed that I belonged here,” Robinson-Thompson said. “I had a top-10 finish and once that happened, I felt like I was at home.”
There were still times that he had to rely on the seniors to help him through things, such as assisting with the courses. The seniors from the 2013-14 campaign also encouraged Robinson-Thompson and the rest of the teammates, which proved to be a valuable asset en route to winning the 10th Peach Belt Conference Championship under head coach Michael Carlisle.
His first season with the Pacers was a bit anti-climatic, according to Robinson-Thompson.
“I had a good year, but I let myself down with my performance at the NCAA Championships,” Robinson-Thompson said.
After not competing as well as he would have wanted, Robinson-Thompson did something that not many golfers do. He took most of the summer off instead of competing in a wide array of tournaments. During that time, he went back to England and spent time with his family and relaxed.
“Heading into my last year of college, I took some time off and I came back feeling refreshed in the fall,” Robinson-Thompson stated.
The time off did him well. After playing in a rain-shortened tournament in the season-opener, Robinson-Thompson won the Saint Leo Invitational with a nine-under par, 135. It marked the best performance of his season that saw him record another two top-10 finishes through the PBC Championship.
His hard work and dedication paid off by recently being named the PBC Player of the Year.
Robinson-Thompson is never satisfied with a score as there is always room for improvement.
“My goal is to be the best golfer I can be,” Robinson-Thompson said. “A lot of golfers have the same ability, but a lot of what being great is – is mental. I feel like I have an added advantage since I had a sports psychologist when I was younger.”
Robinson-Thompson will be able to showcase his skills in the upcoming regional as the Pacers are the No. 2 seed. He hopes to be able to make a return to the NCAA Championship and win a national title, something USC Aiken hasn’t done since the 2006 season.
One of the best golfers in USC Aiken history, Robinson-Thompson has re-written the record book. After his collegiate career is over, Robinson-Thompson will maintain his amateur status for a while and eventually turn pro. However, that is for down the road. Robinson-Thompson’s attention is focused squarely on regionals, nationals and completing his degree.
There’s no doubt that Robinson-Thompson will be remembered for his playing ability and his confidence, but also his willingness to help others. Robinson-Thompson’s legacy will last and will have more of an impact on teammates and others alike. From someone who was unaware that he could play golf in college, the Totland Bay native will leave a lasting impression in the United States.
