A Closer Look - Season 1 (Andrew Ward)
“When you have confidence, you can have a lot of fun. And when you have fun, you can do amazing things,” stated Joe Namath.
His quote can essentially describe senior golfer Andrew Ward. After winning the Elite 89 Award for having the highest GPA among anyone competing at the NCAA National Championships, Ward’s confidence was high.
However, his confidence would get a huge boost over the summer for the second time in his illustrious career.
In the summer, Ward, a native of York, S.C., signed up for a tournament that had 85 competitors and was hosted by the Monroe Country Club in Monroe, N.C. The event, complete with tremendous golfers, allowed the top three to advance to the U.S. Amateur Championship.
“It is pretty difficult to qualify,” Ward said. “Three qualified from the tournament I competed in. Some larger tournaments that have up to 140 golfers allow the top five to qualify for the U.S. Amateur Championship.”
On the first day of competition, Ward fired a 68 on the par-72 course. His four-under par was a superb effort. In fact, Ward had not crossed the 70 threshold in any collegiate event.
“I felt like I was playing well after the first day of competition,” Ward mentioned. “I wasn’t making too many mistakes, but I knew my place would depend on my putts.
“I was tied for third going into the second day and was not too far back from the leaders,” Ward stated. “However, I was not in the last group so I would have to wait and see how others would finish after my second round was completed. I knew I had to go out there and perform to the best of my ability and then wait and see if someone would slip up.”
On the second day, Ward put forth a strong performance on the front nine. He made the turn at two-under par for the day.
“I figured if I kept making birdies, I would shoot the best I could,” Ward said. “I had to hit it close and give myself the opportunity to make putts. At that point, I was unaware of how the other players were performing and I just wanted to focus on getting the best score that I could.”
As Ward was heating up, the competition was cooling off. Ward was playing in the next-to-last group so he would not have to wait long after he was in the clubhouse to find out his fate.
The final trio walked off the course and despite playing well, the trio had fallen behind Ward and two others.
“It is tougher playing with the lead, especially in that kind of event” Ward said. “You always have to keep making birdies because you know others are coming for the lead.”
Ward finished the event with a two-round total of 135 for a nine-under par score on the 6,692-yard course.
After opening the tournament with a first-day 68, Ward finished the 36-hole event with an impressive 67.
For the second time in his young career, Ward qualified for the U.S. Amateur Championship – as he also did in 2011.
“I now have the confidence that I can play with the best amateurs in the world,” Ward said after competing in the U.S. Amateur Championship. He finished the two rounds with a 156, shooting an opening-round 80 before carding a 76.
“I have the experience that not many get to have,” Ward stated. “It was a great learning experience and I took a lot of positives from it. I’m more confident now than last season. As a golfer, I gained confidence from playing well. However, golf is a hard game and just because I had a couple of good days and a few good rounds does not mean I can take it easy. I have to still go out and compete every day.”
With his confidence boosted, Ward will look to help guide the Pacers to its first National Championship since the 2006 campaign. Although it is the ultimate goal, Ward will make sure his senior year is one to remember. With the charismatic smile on his face, Ward mentioned the 2014-15 season may be his last competitive year of his career and he will ensure that the season will be a fun one for him and his teammates while in pursuit of the ultimate goal as a more confident man.
