Saunders is living his own ‘American Dream’
AMERICA really is the land of opportunity for Lee-onthe-Solent golfer George Saunders.
His “American Dream” is proving to be a second successful season at Texas Midland University for last year’s West of England Amateur Champion.
And his stellar form has him lined up for a promotion to the NCAA – from where Jordan Spieth, Brooks Koepka and Justin Thomas all graduated to the PGA Tour.
The 20-year-old, who once played football alongside
Portsmouth’s Matt Casey, is currently No. 2 in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) rankings.
Saunders has recorded two runners-up finishes and a third in his first five tournaments since heading back to the Lone Star State in August.
Saunders’ name has been on the watch list of nearly two dozen NCAA coaches following his first successful season, when his team won nine out of 13 tournaments.
In his fresher year, George finished runner-up in the
TankLogix Invite, on his home course, in his seventh start for The Chaparrals.
He recorded four top fives plus five more top 10s in 12 tournaments.
Offers to move up to the NCAA – which has produced nearly all of the top PGA Tour players over the past 40 years – followed.
And later this month Saunders will complete his switch to the University of Tennessee at the start for the 2020/21 academic year.
Saunders said: ‘Tennessee approached me after the English Amateur. I went there to have a look and loved every second.
‘UT was amazing. The coaches have great experience and knowledge to help the team and individuals achieve great things.
‘I had 19 offers from school all over the US.’
He added: ‘Tennessee have unlimited resources for everything you need.
‘Being dyslexic, I’ve found school hard.
‘However with the support system they have and the facilities – both golf and school – it’s unreal.’