PEELER: Vet Detweiler Leads Young Squad
9/13/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
Sept. 13, 2010
BY TIM PEELER
RALEIGH, N.C. - Brandon Detweiler first played at NC State when he was in middle school. He joined his father, former Wolfpack golfer Marlin Detweiler, on a team in the State Cup, the annual fundraiser for the school's golf program.
That was a long time ago, and Detweiler's career took a twisting path back to Raleigh. He began at Old Dominion, transferred to NC State and waited his turn behind a veteran group of golfers the last two seasons for his opportunity to contribute.
Now, as the only senior on the 2010-11 Wolfpack golf team, Detweiler is a ready to lead a young team into the season-opening Invitational at The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island, S.C. The Wolfpack is one of 12 teams participating in the event, hosted Monday and Tuesday by the College of Charleston.
Detweiler is familiar with the challenging course, which was the host of the 1991 Ryder Cup.
"I played it one time when I was 14," Detweiler said. "It was 40 degrees and the wind was blowing in our face about 40 miles an hour. It was brutal. I don't expect it to be 40 degrees, but that course is hard regardless."
Detweiler enters the event optimistic about his team's chances, despite the heavy loss of veterans from last year's team, including 2009 NCAA champion Matt Hill, who turned professional after his junior season.
"It's definitely a new era of NC State golf, an era without Matt Hill," Detweiler said. "We lost more than half of our team. Of the 11 guys we had last year, we lost six. So it's a young team. "[At 23], I am the oldest one here by a long shot."
That's not to say the Wolfpack is without talent, especially in a batch of newcomers who will be expected to contribute immediately. Head coach Richard Sykes has added two more Canadians, freshman Albin Choi of Toronto and junior Graham Baillargeon, also a native of Ontario who transferred here after two seasons at Michigan State. Other newcomers include James Chapman of Gastonia and Christian Hawley of Kernersville.
"The thing about freshman is just helping them adjust well," Detweiler said. "Albin has played very well this summer, so we obviously want to keep him playing well, if we want to have a strong team. I think we can have a great team this year.
"Last year, we were a little bit under the microscope, just because the expectations were so high. We underachieved."
Detweiler is a veteran who saw some action as a freshman at Old Dominion, in 11 tournaments as a sophomore at NC State and in four tournaments last season. Always known as a long-hitter, Detweiler spent much of the summer working on his short game, especially his various wedges.
He enters the fall season with more confidence in his putter than ever, thanks to the success he had over the summer. The native of Akron, Pa., finished fifth in his homestate Pennsylvania State Amateur, won medalist honors at a U.S. Amateur qualifier and played last month in the Amateur.
"I feel like I am striking the ball very well right now," Detweiler said. "I feel like I have improved on every aspect of my game, especially on my short game. I've been trying to be a more consistent putter. That's something I've really been working on.
"I feel ready to go."
Detweiler is a proud second-generation Wolfpack golfer and a double second generation college athlete. His father, Marlin, played two seasons for Sykes in the 1970s, after transferring to State from Houston. His mother Laurie ran track at Vanderbilt. After graduating in 1978, Marlin Detweiler eventually played professionally until he and his wife founded Veritas Press, a full-service curriculum provider for classical Christian educators.
Brandon is the only one of the Detweilers' four sons who plays golf. When things didn't work out well for him at Old Dominion, he ended up with the Wolfpack, just like his father.
"My dad said Coach Sykes is a great coach to play for," Detweiler said. "And he is. I think we have it made with coach. I hope he's around for a long time. Everybody should experience playing for Coach Skyes, who I have known for a long time.
"I knew what I was getting into when I came here. It's definitely the best decision I ever made."
You may contact Tim Peeler at tim_peeler@ncsu.edu.