National golf title in Rowe’s sights
UVic golfer has won four tournaments
Everything is coming up roses for Lawren Rowe.
The third-year UVic Vike and Mount Douglas grad enters this week’s NAIA national golf championship at TPC Deere Run in Moline, Illinois, seeded No. 1 in the individual men’s rankings.
Having won four of eight events this season, Rowe is also one of five finalists for the 2017 NAIA Jack Nicklaus national player of the year award presented by Barbasol.
Rowe is in the running along with Rupert Kaminski of Oklahoma City; Dalton State’s SM Lee; Billy McKenzie of William Woods; and Andrew Williamson of Wayland Baptist. The winner will be announced June 1 and presented by Nicklaus at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio, during the final round of the Memorial Tournament.
The five nominees will also compete in the Barbasol Shootout for an exemption into the PGA Tour’s Barbasol Championship, slated for July 20-23 at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at Grand National in Opelika, Alabama.
The Barbasol Shootout will be held June 3 at the storied Scioto Country Club in Columbus, Ohio — the same course where Nicklaus first learned the game of golf as a young boy.
Rowe, for now, will be focusing on the NAIA championship, which begins today.
“With nationals being the strongest event of our season, I know that there are numerous players in the field that can win,” Rowe said heading into the event. “The strength of the field simply puts a greater emphasis on focusing on my own game and not worry about how others are playing.”
As for his season, Rowe — who is the No. 4-ranked amateur men’s player in Canada and No. 178 in the world — said: “I like to think that most of my success this season can be attributed to a more productive work ethic. My practice schedule is much more rigorous and focused and I feel that this will only help my chances at nationals this week.”
His coach Justin Clews, who will be alongside this week, agrees.
“Lawren had a breakout year, to say the least,” said Clews. “When you are in a field of more than 60 players at every event and win half of those events — that’s pretty special. The scary thing is, Lawren feels he still has better golf in him moving forward.”
Nationals will be a four-round event with 156 players competing.
“Being a four-round event means that it’s a marathon, not a sprint,” said Clews. “TPC Deere Run is a challenging course, but I know Lawren loves this track and will enjoy every moment.”
Twenty-one teams qualified with automatic berths through conference, independent or unaffiliated tournaments, while eight at-large berths and 11 individual qualifier berths were also awarded.
Rowe’s individual qualification was a guarantee thanks to his third-place finish at the 2016 NAIA national championship. He also finished the 2017 A.I.I. Regional Championship tied for second place and was named to the All-A.I.I. team.
While Rowe competes individually this week, the Vikes women’s team secured an at-large qualification berth to the 2017 NAIA women’s golf national championship, May 23-26 in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.
The Vikes will be led at the PGA National golf course by Laura Ferreira and Hannah Diamond, both named to the All-A.I.I. team.