After winning the Ivy League individual men’s golf title last spring, junior Scotty Williams packed up and left for a semester abroad in South Africa.
But he didn’t get much time to golf during his time abroad.
“My coach wouldn’t like to hear this, but I only played a total of 42 holes with a set of women’s golf clubs,” Williams said.
Despite the lack of time to keep up with his golfing, Williams thought the experience was definitely worthwhile.
“It was really interesting,” Williams said. “I learned a lot about myself and the world. I think that I matured a lot by spending six months in another country.”
He added, however, that he wouldn’t have gone abroad if he didn’t know his game well.
“I don’t have a very technical swing. My swing comes back to me rather quickly,” Williams said. “I knew that I was going to be able to pick it back up again.”
Williams admitted that as he gets back into the swing of things, he still struggles with a few parts of his game.
“My putting and chipping, the feel part of the game, are still lacking a little bit,” he said. “But, if I continue to practice, I should be able to straighten that out.”
Coach Scott Allen had nothing but praise for his standout junior, part of Allen’s first recruiting class at the helm.
“He is obviously a great player, and winning the Ivy League last year showed that,” Allen said. “But he is an even better person.”
Allen loves the attitude that Williams brings to the team.
“He is always positive and always has good things to say about his teammates,” the coach said. “He never gets down on himself, which is so important in a mental game like golf. He never lets the external things get to him.”
Williams and company are looking forward to another successful season.
“I am really pumped about our starting five. I think this is our best year,” Williams said.
Scotty thinks his biggest competition for the individual title is one of his teammates.
“Freshman Max Marsico has been lighting it up this year, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he won it,” he said. “But, I am going to try to give him a run for his money.”
The Quakers have gotten off to a blistering start this spring, winning their last two tournaments, as Marsico finished third at the Penn Quaker Invitational.
Williams’ best finish this season was second at the OMNI Financial Invitational, and he’ll look to improve on that this weekend at the Princeton Invitational.
The Daily Pennsylvanian is an independent, student-run newspaper. Please consider making a donation to support the coverage that shapes the University. Your generosity ensures a future of strong journalism at Penn.
DonatePlease note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.