ETSU is under a month from starting its 2005 spring golf season, and high expectations are being put on the team’s best player, Rhys Davies.
Davies, ranked sixth nationally by Golf Week, finished the fall season on a strong note. Davies never finished out of the top three in all tournaments he competed in. He also finished the fall with a stroke average of 70.5 and five sub-70 rounds to lead the Bucs.
During the fall’s Coca-Cola tournament of champions, Davies shot a school-tying 64 during one round.
Davies won the Carpet Capital Classic tournament, which is considered to have one of the country’s toughest fields.
“It was my first college win, so that was exciting,” said Davies. “Leaving the tournament ranked so high was also pleasing.”
Davies will begin his sophomore season earlier than most of his teammates. He and another member of the team will compete in the Jones Cup on Feb 16. This tournament will take place before the regular season opener, the Puerto Rico Classic on Feb 27.
When asked if it was overwhelming to be ranked so high nationally, Davies casually answered that he knows exactly where he wants to go.
“I know where I want to go in the sport,” he said. “To be sixth is great, but there are still five other players in my way.”
Davies, who hails from Wales, competed and finished 25th at the World Amateur during the 2004 fall season. He also competed on the victorious European Palmer Cup team over the summer.
When asked how he will duplicate last season’s accomplishments, Davies replied.
“I’m going to take it one tournament at a time,” he said. “I’m not rushing in front of anything and not looking where I want to be at the end of the season.
He said it is important to be on the Palmer cup team again and of course be victorious. Davies stressed the importance of being accepted to the Walker Cup, one of his main goals.
The Walker Cup, held in August, is a tournament similar to the PGA tour’s Ryder Cup. This is where England and Ireland compete against the United States in team play.
“To be accepted I just have to perform in each tournament, keep my game going and hope for the best.” he said.
Since 2003, when Davies left Wales as the 2003 British Boys amateur champion, he has steadily climbed the ladder.
His career goals are to be a professional golfer either on the PGA tour or the European tour. He mentioned that he would have more contacts in Europe, making it easier to join, but he also acknowledges that the PGA tour is where the glamour is.
Davies has also adjusted very well to life in the states. He says that the setup and the golf program here at the university have made life very easy here. Since everything he needs is here and accessible on campus, he really has had a good time as a Buc. He also said the students and faculty has been very inviting.
The 2005 season begins on Feb. 27 with Puerto Rico Classic.

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