Former Jayhawk golfer ready for pros

By Dylan Schoonover

Wednesday, June 27, 2007

Gary Woodland’s career as a standout performer for the Kansas golf team has concluded, but his professional career is just beginning to take flight.

Woodland ended his tenure as a Jayhawk tying for 25th at the NCAA Central Regional Tournament on May 19. Despite the disappointing finish, Woodland captured three tournament victories during his senior season.

Since the close of the season, Woodland has been on the amateur circuit developing his game. In September, he plans to become a professional golfer.

“I’m trying to continually better myself each day,” Woodland said. “I’m excited about the chance to become a professional.”

Playing golf wasn’t Woodland’s first love upon graduating from Shawnee Heights High School in Tecumseh, outside of Topeka. He signed a scholarship to play basketball at Washburn University, where he continued developing his golf game on Washburn’s golf team.

In relation to his golfing peers, Woodland is relatively young to the sport.

“I loved playing basketball. I had great success in the sport,” Woodland said. “What it came down to was, that for me, basketball was a four-year sport. Unlike basketball, I knew in golf I might have the opportunity to play professionally.”

After playing for the U.S. team in the United States-Japan Collegiate Championship on July 11-13 in Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif., Woodland will be back in Kansas for one tournament before heading to Texas to continue improving with his teaching pro Randy Smith. Smith served as a second coach for Woodland throughout his senior season.

“I’ve been with Randy for over a year and a half now,” Woodland said. “Like today, I had a bad round pulling the ball, so I called him up. He calmed me down and gave me advice on what to change tomorrow.”

Along with Smith, the Kansas coaching staff of Ross Randall and Kit Grove has had an effect on Woodland’s success. Woodland describes Randall as a second father to him and said Grove will be a great coach after Randall’s retirement.

Kansas assistant coach Kit Grove said Woodland possessed skills that separated him from other players. Grove said Woodland’s potential was unlimited because of his ability to build off of every round he plays.

“Gary can do things with a golf ball that very few people can,” Grove said. “He has that X-factor you can’t teach and when he does need help he’s like a sponge learning from everything.”

Woodland said he hoped to qualify for the Walker Cup that takes place at the Royal County Down Golf Club in Ireland on September 8-9. After that event, he will choose his sponsors and make the leap to the pros.

“I’d love to play in the Walker Cup,” Woodland said. “That is my final goal as an amateur.”

— Edited by Joe Caponio

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