Latest news with #SouthernHighlandsCollegiate
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Florida sophomore Luke Poulter achieves big career milestone
Luke Poulter's comeback has reached new heights. Poulter, the 20-year-old Florida sophomore and son of European Ryder Cup legend Ian Poulter, picked up his first career college victory on Sunday at the Schenkel Invitational. Poulter capped his wire-to-wire title with a birdie on his final hole, which broke him out of a tie with teammate Ian Gilligan. The Gators, ranked 11th nationally, were clipped by No. 12 Utah by a shot for the team trophy. This performance had been brewing for Poulter. After redshirting his first season, Poulter posted six top-16 finishes last season for the Gators, but while playing a U.S. Open local qualifier last spring, he was forced to withdraw with back pain. Doctors would later diagnose Poulter with a stress fracture in his right L4 vertebrae, an injury that sidelined Poulter for about seven months, much of which he spent back in England. After serious back injury, Luke Poulter enjoying role as Florida's 'secret weapon' Poulter, the son of Ryder Cup legend Ian Poulter, returned this spring for the Gators after missing seven months with a stress fracture in his lower back. Brentley Romine, Brentley Romine, Poulter returned to action for Florida in late January, tying for 31st at the Southwestern Invitational. He followed with a T-6 at the Gators Invitational and T-34 at the Southern Highlands Collegiate before shooting 67-69-72, good for 8 under in 54 holes around Forest Heights Country Club in Statesboro, Georgia. 'I'm driving it the best I've ever driven it,' Poulter said in February. Ian Poulter, who will next tee it up in next week's LIV Golf Miami event, took to Twitter to congratulate his son: We couldn't be more proud of Luke for his first collegiate individual event win This means so much to him most importantly. Having to sit out for 7 months last year with a fractured L4 was not hard work, an incredible mindset and a wonderful team of people around… — Ian Poulter (@IanJamesPoulter) March 23, 2025 'This means so much to him most importantly. Having to sit out for seven months last year with a fractured L4 was not easy. But hard work, an incredible mindset and a wonderful team of people around him to keep him focused and positive. 'This was worth waiting for, and we're opening that bottle of champagne, and we are toasting this win for you.'
NBC Sports
22-02-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Latin America Amateur champ vaults into top 10 of Mexico Open
The most nervous Justin Hastings has ever been? The second round of last year's Puerto Rico Open, where he had a 5-foot putt to make the cut in his PGA Tour debut. The San Diego State product from Cayman Islands missed that putt, but he left that day better prepared for the next time. In his second PGA Tour start, this week at the Mexico Open at VidantaWorld, Hastings – with his dad, Rich, on the bag – comfortably punched his ticket to the weekend, by four shots. He then followed with a 6-under 65 in Saturday's third round to move into the top 10. 'Now that I made the cut, which I think was a big goal this week, it took a lot of stress off, and I felt like I played a lot more free today,' Hastings said. 'Yeah, I think it showed on the scorecard.' Hastings opened his scoring with a 17-foot birdie make at the par-4 first hole. Nearly top 10 in both strokes gained approach and putting, Hastings added a 31-footer for birdie at the par-3 11th. His birdies at Nos. 15 and 17 were from 11 feet and 9 feet, respectively. While Hastings is likely too far back to have a shot at winning on Sunday – leader Aldrich Potgieter is eight shots clear of the amateur – he can still rack up points toward his PGA Tour University ranking; he entered the week No. 15 in the seniors-only race, where the top 10 after the end of the NCAA Championship earn Korn Ferry Tour status (the top player gets his PGA Tour card). Also, any valuable experience is welcomed considering what Hastings has coming up on his schedule. The recent Latin America Amateur champion, Hastings will play the Masters in April. He said Saturday that he plans to make his first scouting trip to Augusta National before teeing it up in the Puerto Rico Open, which is in two weeks and overlaps with San Diego State's start at the Southern Highlands Collegiate. 'I'll definitely miss the boys, but hopefully they understand that I've got some cool stuff to do,' Hastings said of his teammates. Same goes for his professors. 'Graduating, that's going to be a difficult one,' Hastings said. 'I'm home for about three days after this, and I have to take about three or four exams, and I only have three classes, so it's going to be a tough one school wise the last couple months, but obviously do my best. At three and a half years, let's complete it obviously. 'No, it's obviously been more busy, a lot of time on the road, but I think the best part of practice is playing in tournaments anyway. You learn a lot about yourself under the pressure because that's where the real things come out, right? So, I think I like to learn as I play these tournaments, and I can take these things into the next week and improve on them.'
