"IF YOU LIKE GOLF"
online golf column
by
Chris Dortch

August  24, 2006

When UTC’s golf team arrived at its first tournament of the year last fall, Jonathan Hodge quickly found out that being the only freshman on the traveling squad had its disadvantages.

Or at least that’s what the Mocs’ upperclassmen thought when they handed out room assignments.

“On the road, we’ve got five players, a coach and three rooms,” UTC coach Mark Guhne. “When we get out of the van at our first tournament, the upperclassmen said, ‘Jonathan, you’re staying with coach.’ Nobody wants to room with the coach.”

The other four Mocs thought they’d pulled a fast one on the rookie, but Hodge quickly used his accommodations to his advantage. After UTC played a practice round that first day, Hodge and Guhne ate dinner, returned to their room and broke down Hodge’s round, shot by shot.

In the first round of the tournament the next day, Hodge shot a 4-under-par 68.

“So the next night, we went over Jonathan’s round again,” Guhne said.

And the next day, Hodge shot another 68. You get the feeling Hodge and Guhne didn’t watch CSI reruns in their hotel room that night.

“We broke his round down again,” Guhne said. “And he finishes his tournament off with a 72 the next day. Eight under par for a freshman in his first tournament. I’d say that’s pretty good.”

When the Mocs played their next tournament, Hodge decided on his own roommate.

“I’m staying with coach,” he declared to his teammates as they unpacked their van. That arrangement worked fine the rest of the season—Hodge eventually earned first-team All-Southern Conference honors.

Guhne was reminded of that story Thursday night when he was discussing Hodge’s latest exploits on the golf course. This time it was on a bit bigger stage—the U.S. Amateur, being played at historic Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minn. Having survived an 11-man playoff after stroke play qualifying and advancing to match play, Hodge has toured Hazeltine, which has played host to two U.S. Opens, like he owns the place, winning 23 of the 29 holes he’s played in two matches and advancing to the round of 16.

Hodge had already made history by becoming the first UTC player to ever qualify for the Amateur. What he’s done in two days of match play is off the charts.

After the news broke on Thursday that Hodge had dispatched John Hahn, 3 and 2, to advance to the round of 16, Guhne received a visit from three of his players.

“They all said, ‘Coach, whatever you’re doing for Jonathan, we want you to do for us, too,’ ” Guhne said.

When Guhne signed Hodge out of Jefferson County High School in Dandridge, Tenn., he was an unheralded player that the nearby University of Tennessee didn’t consider signing. But Hodge knew he could play, and he started trying to prove it as soon as he arrived on campus.

“Coach,” Hodge said to Guhne. “I want to be the best player in the country. How can I do that?”

Guhne had a few suggestions. The gangly Hodge was long enough off the tee and rarely hit a crooked shot, but his short game needed some work.

“I told him to start working on the wedges,” Guhne said. “And to spend a lot of time putting. That’s what separates the great players from the good players. Everybody can hit the ball in college golf, and the PGA Tour. The best players are the ones that can get the ball up and down from anywhere.”

Hodge did as he was told. Here’s how confident he is with his ability to save par. The 13^th hole at Hazeltine is a monstrous, 247-yard par 3. The length of the hole isn’t a problem, but rather than risk missing the green with a utility club, Hodge has pulled out an iron every day, laid up short of the green and tried to save par. He didn’t make a three on Thursday, but he did get a four to Hahn’s double-bogey 5.

The best thing about Hodge’s game might be his mindset. He realizes there’s a price to pay for being great, and he’s willing to pay it. And he’s quickly finding out success breeds success.

By advancing to the round of 16 at the U.S. Amateur, his playing schedule in the spring and summer of 2007 got a lot more congested.

“This will get him invitations to all the national amateur tournaments—the Western, the Eastern, the Porter Cup, the Southern, the Sunnehanna —all of them,” Guhne said. “He’ll also earn a bunch of Walker Cup points.”

Hodge has also received a standing offer from Titleist to be custom fit with equipment. He’ll have to pay his own way to Titleist’s headquarters, but once there he’ll have his pick of equipment, including the latest stuff usually reserved for touring pros. Considering Hodge already plays the company’s woods and wedges, it’s safe to assume he’ll take Titleist up on its offer.

Guhne isn’t worried about Hodge’s success going to his head. In an interview with Golfweek on Thursday, Hodge attributed his success to Guhne and God.

“I wish he hadn’t mentioned me in the same sentence,” Guhne said, laughing. “I might get struck down by lightning.”

After his round on Thursday, Hodge called his teammates and thanked them all.

“If I didn’t play against you guys every day in practice, I wouldn’t be the player I am right now,” Hodge said.

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