By Derrick Ow — Reporter
Derrick: Nate, when did you start playing golf?
Nate: My dad and grandfather both played professional golf. My dad played golf here at San Jose State where he was the captain in his senior year. He played with coach Kennaday when they played here. My family has been in the golf business for 25 years locally. My parents could not keep the golf club out of my hand. The earliest memories I have are going to the range with my dad and working on bunker shots. He never made it hard work for me and we just had fun, which is the attitude I take to golf today.
Derrick: What made you want to walk on to the golf team?
Nate: I was actually on a baseball visit to SJSU and decided to visit coach Kennaday. He made a joke that if I wanted to give golf a try that he would extend that offer. A couple of days later, I gave him a call and he thought I was joking. I did not tell my parents about the phone call. I told my parents and my dad told me, ‘You don’t want to do this and it is going to be terrible.’ I told him I was OK with that and I would work my way up and see where it takes me.
Derrick: Did any injuries close the baseball chapter in your life?
Nate: Well, I played all four years at Foothill High School. I caught every game my junior and senior year. I had two knee surgeries between seasons due to wear and tear. They still bug me especially with 36-hole tournaments. I did get offers from lower-level schools, but I did not see much of a future in baseball.
Derrick: What was the toughest part of transitioning to golf full-time?
Nate: My bad days were on me. I would go 0 for 4 with three strikeouts and our team would win. You go shoot 85 and you lose every single time. The biggest difference is that your bad days you will never walk away feeling like a winner. It is really rare to win a golf tournament but if you are a good baseball team you will win a lot. You have to deal with these bad days in golf.
Derrick: What similarities do you see in team culture between baseball and golf?
Nate: It is funny you ask that question. I was telling one of my teammates that with a sport like golf there is always something you can work on. It does not take that much energy to go to the course and putt. In baseball you can show up and get your swings in and grind through it. Golf you have to be there mentally. As far as a team aspect, there are both team sports in individual manners. In baseball, the game is between the pitcher and the batter and you just sit and wait. That also applies to golf as well. I know in both sports that your teammates are always going to be there for me.
Derrick: How long have you known coach Kennaday?
Nate: He was there the day I was born. I actually have a picture of him holding me when I was three days old. I did not know him as well as I do now. I would see him at family events and still do. I always say hey JK I cannot get away from you. He has been like a father figure since my freshman season. I could have asked for a better coach. If you want to be a better player then you should come here because we have one of the best facilities in the country and he is one of the best coaches in the country. He knows how to develop kids who come in here and develop them into the self-respecting people we all strive to be.
Derrick: Did you doubt yourself during your first couple of years on the team?
Nate: I had my fair share of struggles. I walked into coach Kennaday’s office with the full intention of quitting my sophomore year. He did not know what I was going to say, but he was so enthusiastic about the progress I was making. I have known him my whole life, so I knew I could not tell him I was done.
Derrick: What were your first practices like with the team?
Nate: I did not own my own set of golf clubs. I did not know the correct way to hold a golf bag. I shot a 92 on my first round of qualifying. I thought the round was good but it is not for a collegiate golfer.
Derrick: How did it feel to follow in your dad’s footsteps and be named a team captain?
Nate: I always wanted to be a leader on the team and help the younger guys. I remember when I came in, some of the older guys looked at me and wondered what I was doing here. I had a couple of teammates tell me that this might not be for me. I always had that positive attitude and woke up with a mission. After my junior year, my goal was to be named team captain which I was named at the end of last season. From being the worst golfer in Division I golf to being the captain of a high-level competitive team is a dream come true.
Derrick: What advice has your dad shared about being a college golfer?
Nate: He always told me to enjoy it. He is always there for me and luckily he is only just half an hour up the road. He is a great golfer and always has great golf advice. He just wants me to enjoy what I am doing. He has always been there for me and tries to come to all of our tournaments. My parents actually came to our last tournament in Hawaii. Even though I did not play my best having my parents there is amazing. I know after those rounds he always tells me what can I learn from this and apply it to my next round. I know without his support I would not be where I am today.
Derrick: The team has not finished outside of the top-10 in any of your events so far this season. What has attributed to that success?
Nate: We have built a team culture together. We do not have any guys that would quit on us. It is quite remarkable and we push hard that we know we are not going to give up. We play against other teams and you see players fold. Coach Kennaday tells us that he does not care what we shoot but I want you to be there for whatever goes on. The big difference is that we give it our best effort every day. Our team takes it one shot at a time and we move forward.
Derrick: What is next for you after this season?
Nate: I am going to take care of San Jose State being as good as it can be and I will figure it out when we get to that point.
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