North Carolina State University Athletics
A Wonderful Experience (7/6/09)
7/6/2009 12:00:00 AM | Pack Athletics
Editor’s Note: Reigning NCAA Champion Matt Hill carded his second consecutive 75 on Sunday at the AT&T National, his first PGA Tour event. The only amateur in the field, he finished tied for 70th with a 10-over 290, ahead of four tour professionals and the 44 other pros who did not make the cut.
BETHESDA, Md. While I wouldn’t put it quite on the same par as winning the NCAA Men’s Golf Championship, making the cut this past weekend at the AT&T National certainly ranks among the best things I have accomplished over the last year.
Just to get the opportunity to play in Tiger Woods’ event, against some of the best players in the world, was a thrill for me. I learned about the kind of competition these guys are on a week-to-week basis. I don’t think I had my A-game this week, especially on the weekend, but I do think I am capable of competing with these guys.
It was truly a successful week for me.
But it didn’t change my commitment of coming back to NC State for my junior year and competing again for the Wolfpack. I talked to a lot of the professional golfers out here on tour, and I got strong advice from all of them to stay in school and keep trying to win college tournaments. I feel like NC State has some of the best facilities in the country and we play a great schedule. I feel like there are several areas of my game that I can continue to improve.
It is a long road ahead to make the PGA Tour, but I feel like I got a lot of good advice from the players who are out here every week.
I shot a 75 in my final round, though most of the damage was done on the front nine. I wasn’t putting very well all week and that really cost me on Sunday. I felt my ball striking was all right. I just made some mistakes and I couldn’t really get anything to go in for birdie.
But the big news is I didn’t make a double-bogey on No. 11, as I did during the first three rounds. I kept my drive in the fairway, hit a 4-iron on the green and two-putted before anything disastrous happened. Even though I played that hole at 6-over for the week, I felt a little better when I saw that Tiger Woods played it at 5-over for the week as well. That helped a lot.
I enjoyed my week on the Tour, even if I didn’t stay around to watch Woods claim his one-shot victory over Hunter Mahan. After I finished my round, I piled back in the car with my family and we made the nine-hour trip back to Bright’s Grove, Ontario. I wanted to be able to be at home and take a few days to relax before I begin preparing for next week’s Ontario Amateur.
My dad drove most of the way home. I was totally exhausted after such an exciting week. I am taking as much time off as I can right now, hanging out with my friends, my family and my dog. I just want to relax a little.
Playing in my first PGA Tour event was a great experience. Next time, I am just going to go out and work harder and play better.
It will definitely help me as I prepare for the other tournaments I am playing this summer. After the Ontario Amateur, I am scheduled to play in the Canadian Open, a Nationwide Tour event in Columbus, Ohio, the Canadian Amateur and the United States Amateur.
Then I am coming back to Raleigh for the start of classes in late August.
