The Alabama men’s golf team is hungry for redemption.
Last season the Crimson Tide lost to the University of Texas on the final hole of play in the National Championship match at the Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, Calif.
“It was a great match,” head coach Jay Seawell said. “Unfortunately in athletics there is one winner and one loser. We didn’t win, so it does hurt a little.”
Despite coming up short last season, the Tide is looking back at last season as motivation to get back to the national championship match.
“I do believe the atmosphere and getting a chance to experience it no matter if we won or not motivates you to get back there because it so special,” Seawell said.
Besides using last season as motivation the Tide are also using it as a foundation for this season.
“It was unbelievable,” sophomore Justin Thomas said. “Although we lost it was so fun and so intense, we were all very hurt obviously, but I think it was a very good learning experience.”
Alabama will not only use its experience from last year’s national championship to help them have a shot at winning this year, but also will use the experience they gained from the fall portion of the season.
“It was very productive,” Seawell said. “We learned a lot about ourselves and what we have to do for the spring.”
The Tide’s quest for redemption will begin this Sunday as it plays in the Puerto Rico Classic at the Rio Mar Country Club in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico. Alabama is returning three of its top five players from last year, Juniors Bobby Wyatt and Corey Whitsett and Sophomore Justin Thomas, who was the National Player of the Year in 2012.
“We’re still in the process of finding out what our top five are,” Seawell said. “Wyatt, Whitsett and Thomas will be in that so where still trying to figure out who will play the four and five spot.”
“Prepare today, tomorrow be there,” Seawell said.
The simple statement is the team’s motto, and he said the team is ready to be there and to excel this season.
“I think the guys are very hungry,” Seawell said. “They are hungry because they are competitors and would like to have a chance to have that experience again and see if they can change that outcome.”
Leading in today’s Crimson White:
Alpha Psi Omega selling Valentine-O-Grams for a cause
