No. 5 Texas men’s golf returns to Austin to enjoy its three-week break after back-to-back tournaments out West, claiming first place at the Arizona National Invitational Tournament in Tucson and finishing second at the Amer Ari Invitational in Waimea, Hawaii.
So far, through the first two tournaments, No. 19-ranked senior Luke Potter has been the Longhorns’ ace. Potter started off the spring with a season-best runner-up finish in the individual standings in Arizona. He finished every round under par and recorded a 12-under par 204 (66-68-70).
Potter followed up his performance in Arizona with another top-five finish, shooting 18-under par through three days and claiming fourth place in Hawaii. Having competed in the Amer Ari Invitational before, Potter leaned on experience to guide his strategy.
“I played that tournament last year, so we had a good idea of what we were getting into,” Potter said. “It’s going to be some really low scores, so it’s just focusing on staying patient during the round and not trying to press too hard about making birdies, really just staying in the present, and that game plan really (helped).”
That game plan contributed to Potter recording 19 birdies and two eagles across 54 holes. Potter attributes his early-season success to his reliable short game.
“My scoring clubs are really good,” Potter said. “The short irons and wedges are going the right distance, and putting myself in position to have a lot of birdie opportunities. Especially last week in Hawaii, when I did have those good opportunities, I converted. So the putting has been hot thus far and looking to keep it going.”
With just over two months remaining until the Southeastern Conference Championship, Potter has noticed the locker room’s vibe begin to shift, including the coaches.
“Everyone’s a bit more focused,” Potter said. “We’re really focused on the day-to-day. Qualifying is a little bit more intense, and you can see it with the coaches. They’re really excited about what this team can do. Anything that’s on the positive side of things, in terms of coming from the coaches, is really good. Because when we see the confidence in their eyes, that gives us more confidence to be able to go out and swing freely and play to the standards that we know we can play to.”
Only four regular-season tournaments remain for the Longhorns. Texas returns to the course March 1 at the three-day Southern Highlands Collegiate in Las Vegas. The Longhorns will then travel to Daly City, California, to compete in the Desimone Invitational before traveling to the East Coast to conclude the regular season.
With the final stretch of his college career quickly approaching, Potter remains focused on getting as much as he can out of his final season.
“It’s sad knowing my college career is almost done, but I’m really enjoying the role I have on this team,” Potter said. “I’m just looking for the next step I can take as a golfer and as a person.”