SUMMERSIDE – MacKenzie Clow is hoping to build off a strong first half with the Husson University Eagles.
The 20-year-old son of Jeff and Katherine Clow of Summerside is in his third year of university, and his second season with the Bangor, Maine-based Husson golf team.
“I was really happy,” said Clow in assessing his first half in a recent interview with the Journal Pioneer. “I thought I played better than last year, got a few more notches under my belt.”
Clow’s average tournament score was 73.8 – an improvement from 77.62 for 18 ½ rounds played in 2016 – and the 13-member Eagles’ team, which competes in the North Atlantic Conference, went undefeated in team play.
Individually, Clow was named to the All-Maine, All-New England and All-Conference Teams, and finished tied in one USM Fall Classic and after that had top-10 finishes in each tournament.
Along with the first-place tie, some other highlights for Clow included a fourth-place finish in the conference championship, a fifth-place showing in the Maine State championship and he was sixth at the Husson invitational.
“My goal is to get my scoring average to even par for my tournament rounds, and our team wants to make the cut at nationals, and have a good competing chance,” said Clow, who noted the spring season will begin in late February and conclude with nationals in Carolina in mid-May.
Priorities for spring season
Clow, a member at P.E.I. Ocean View Resort and Golf in Linkletter just outside Summerside, said two of his priorities in preparing for the spring season are to work on his swing and he’s putting a strong emphasis on improving his consistency as his goal is to peak for nationals.
“Not having that one miss that ruins a round,” continued Clow, who is majoring in accounting. “For example, one bad swing can be the difference between a 71 and 74.”
When asked if a big part of becoming more consistent was mental, he quickly replied, “100 per cent,” before adding, “You have to get over your own hurdles out there sometimes.”
Clow, a 2015 graduate of Three Oaks Senior High School in Summerside, feels having a year’s experience at Husson has been a big plus.
“I’m a lot more calmer in a lot of situations,” added Clow, who noted he also benefits from being more familiar with the courses he is playing.
“You know a little bit more where to miss and where not to,” he smiled.
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