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Trading caps and gowns for putters

Kentucky State seniors James Andersen and Nicholas Morrow would be happy to go through Saturday's graduation ceremony.

It's just that they already have something else to do that day.

Andersen and Morrow, along with the rest of the KSU men's golf team, will be competing in the Minority Collegiate Golf Championship at the PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Fla.

The tournament, being played on the Ryder and Wanamaker courses, is 54-hole stroke play Friday through Sunday. The teams are playing a practice round today.

"I definitely want to win a championship," Morrow said. "I'll miss walking (at graduation), but this was important."

This is the second year in a row KSU has competed in this tournament, one the Thorobreds won in 1998 and 2000 and were second in 1999, 2001 and 2002. Kentucky State competes in Division II of the tournament.

"Four of us are returning," Morrow said about the national tournament. "We lost a very good player from last year's team, and we had to fill in with two people who had never played a (collegiate) round before this year. The younger players for the most part have played pretty well. Making the transition from high school to college is tough, and I know how tough it is."

Andersen and Morrow are the only seniors on the team. The other members are sophomores Kendrick Lawson and Marcus Pipes, both of Louisville; junior Patrick Lawrence of Chicago, Ill.; and freshman Jared Perkins of Owenton.

Andersen came to KSU after playing golf at Franklin County High School.

"I worked at Lakeview for two summers," Andersen said. "There was a professor from KSU who was up here frequently hitting balls. He knew I played golf in high school and said if I was interested in college golf I should get in touch with coach (Ron) Braden.

"It's been a good experience," he added. "I've played four years of college golf, and I've played on a lot of great courses. I wouldn't change a thing."

Andersen capped off this season by being named second team all-conference, and he and Perkins were named to the all-SIAC academic team.

A business administration major with a specialization in marketing, Andersen said deciding to miss graduation wasn't something he took lightly.

"I talked to my parents about it," he said. "They said whatever I wanted to do was fine with them. They know golf is important to me."

Morrow, also a four-year member of the KSU golf team, is closing out the season with several awards " he's been named the team's most valuable player, first team all-conference and to the SIAC all-tournament team.

"He's progressed all four years," said Braden, KSU's coach. "We've basically been riding his scores for four years."

Morrow shot the third lowest score at the conference championship played April 20-23 at the Flint River Municipal Golf Course in Albany, Ga., and the Thorobreds finished third in the team standings.

This was the first time the SIAC had a men's golf championship since 1980.

"We've been wanting it since my freshman year," Morrow said about a conference tournament. "We were hoping for it our sophomore and junior years, but it didn't work out.

"Having it this year was exciting," he added. "You know you have to shoot low to make first team all-conference, regular season MVP. It's different than just getting ready for another tournament."

Morrow, of Waterford, Mich., is earning a degree in business with a specialization in marketing. He plans to work in sports marketing in Michigan.

"I'm pretty happy with how things turned out," he said about his KSU career. "I started slow, but I've gotten better. I'm happy with the way I've progressed, absolutely."

And he'd like to see that progress continue this weekend.

"Our goal as a team is to get in the top five in Division II," Morrow said. "Personally, if I'm in contention when Sunday afternoon rolls around I'll be happy. I don't have to win, but if I'm contending I'll be happy."

Like Morrow, Andersen has team and individual goals for the tournament.

His goal for himself?

"Top 10," Andersen said. "I'd be pretty happy to be in the top 10. The competition is tough, but if I could put three rounds together to be in the top 10 I'd be happy. I'd like to do better, but I think that's realistic."

As for the team?

"We'd like to win it," he added. "We have a good team this year, and if everyone plays to their potential, we'll definitely be competitive down there."

Braden says his team has gotten better as the year's gone along.

"This team is shooting the best scores the program has had in two years," he said. "Our scores have gotten better, and that's what I look for. We've cut 35 to 40 strokes off our score from the first tournament, and that's what I look for in my team every year."

Morrow, Andersen, Perkins, Pipes and Lawrence will play as a team this weekend with Lawson competing as an individual.

"I think we'll be in the middle of the pack," Braden said. "I think it would take a special effort to place one, two or three."

And while this season hasn't quite wrapped up, Braden already has plans for next year.

"We're looking to bring in five freshmen, and they have to shoot 85 or lower," he said. "We don't cut kids. If they're interested in playing, they're part of the program. They may not make the trips, but they're on the team.

"Ron (Whitaker) and Lakeview have been integral part of our success for giving us a place to play and practice," Braden said, "and for giving us some invaluable advice, and so has Kirk Schooley at Juniper Hill."