Troy University Athletics
Golf Summer Accomplishments
8/28/2009 9:00:00 PM | Golf (M), Golf (W)
Assistant Troy golf coach Simmi Masson traveled back to his home in Iceland over the summer to compete in the Open Golf Tour. The tour consists of amateurs and professionals, and the Troy coach competed well.
“My first tournament was the last week of May,” Masson said. “There are six tournaments over the summer with the last one coming the last weekend in August. It's pretty much all of the top golfers in Iceland, and I didn't play much in the spring semester. I coached a lot so I had to go home in the first two weeks and get myself into playing shape.”
The tour consisted of 130 golfers, and Masson's performances got him national recognition.
“The national captain asked me if I wanted to play in the European Men's Team Championship so I joined the team,” Masson said.
In the European Team Championship while representing Iceland, Masson faced close to 40 golfers ranked in the top 100.
“I played against a guy from Texas A&M who was on the national championship team there last year,” Masson said. “I felt good that I was able to compete against him. There were other national captains coming up to me saying 'You played really good today' and that will always make you feel good.”
Iceland finished 11th overall in the tournament, and then Masson headed back home. His summer full of competition was far from over though.
“I went back and played in the national championship tournament,” Masson said. “I was in the final group on the last day, but I made a triple bogey and got five strokes off of the lead. I played really bad on the back nine and finished fifth overall.”
Finishing fifth doesn't seem like a bad day to most, but Masson won the tournament in 2006 and anticipated doing it again.
So what lies ahead for the accomplished golfer now turned coach?
“That's a big question I have asked myself,” Masson said. “I like coaching a lot. I still coach some back home too. That's something I see myself being able to do. Since I have been playing more though, I might have a chance at getting closer and closer to where the big guys are.”
Masson and his passion for the game and coaching is now back in Troy. He is ready to put what he learned on tour into the minds of Troy's golfers in hopes of helping them accomplish great things this season.
Troy golfers also competed in various tournaments over the summer to keep their game in shape.
Nikki Crowley and Haley Lawrence both competed in the Alabama Women's State Amateur. Crowley reached the quarterfinals while Lawrence went the distance to the finals.
“It's really good for both of those girls,” Trojans head coach Matt Terry said. “They are both coming back for their sophomore year, and I'm ready to see them in action. Playing in the finals was hug for Haley. I have never had a player make it that far at state.”
Kaley Branton finished sixth at the Women's State Amateur in Georgia over the summer.
“She played it tight and had a good summer,” Terry said. “She won't be rusty when we get back in the swing of things.”
On the men's side Reid Merrit knocked out the overall number one seed in Alabama State Match Play, and lost to the eventual champion in the round of eight.
“We are very excited to be back, and we're going to get started pretty quick,” Terry said.
The Trojans golf course received a new addition over the summer as well. Trojan Oaks Golf Course is now equipped with a new practice tee box.
Season Dates:
The women's team will get thing rolling on September 11th in College Station, Texas at Texas A&M. They will travel to the University of South Florida, The University of Miami and around the Sun Belt this season to compete.
The women's team will host the Troy University Women's Invitational on October 25-27 at the Troy Country Club.
On the men's side the Trojans will travel to Southern Mississippi on September 13th to start the season. Trips to Louisiana Tech, Georgia Southern, Xavier, South Florida and Florida State are on the schedule for the Trojans. Trips around the Sun Belt also complete the schedule.
