Freshman golfer ignites Hoosiers' season

Growing up in Queretaro, Mexico, freshman golfer Santiago Quirarte figured he would play a sport when he went to college.\nHe never imagined it would be golf.\n"Up until I was 14 I was a successful tennis player in Mexico," Quirarte said. "I picked up golf and started winning local tournaments so I focused on that."\nQuirarte's focus paid off as he became the No. 1-ranked youth golfer in Mexico and was awarded a scholarship to play golf for the Hoosiers. He was recruited by many other schools coming out of high school including the University of Denver, University of Texas El-Paso and Colorado State, but in the end, Quirarte knew IU was the best fit for him.\n"I really was impressed with the facilities here at IU," He said. "The guys on the team I met were great as well when I came to visit."\nQuirarte's uncles, who had played golf for many years, nurtured the young golfer early in his career, he said. With his uncles helping him on his golf game and his dad helping him on his mental game, Quirarte quickly became one of the best youth golfers in Mexico.\nBy the time Quirarte stepped foot on campus this fall, he had represented Mexico seven times on international teams, won 13 tournaments his final youth season in Mexico, earned the No. 1 ranking in Mexican youth golf and finished 10th at the 2003 Junior World Championship in San Diego.\nQuirarte played in all five tournaments the Hoosiers entered in the fall season and ended the season with a 75.62 scoring average. His best finish was 18th place at the Xavier Invitational.\nAlthough Quirarte went through some growing pains during his first season of collegiate golf, going into the spring season the Hoosiers had high expectations for Quirarte.\n"Santiago had his ups and downs this fall," said IU coach Mike Mayer. "We will see that he is no longer a freshman and he will step up his game."\nSo far this spring Santiago has surpassed even Mayer's expectations. After finishing 38th at the season-opening Hyatt Tournament, Quirarte fired a three-round score of 210 to finish fourth at last week's Pioneer Classic. His efforts paid off: He received the Big Ten Golfer of the Week award, the first such honor of Quirarte's Hoosier career.\n"Santiago played really well this last week and this was a great honor for him," Mayer said. "We have already seen more confidence in him after winning the award."\nThe improvement over the winter months should come to no surprise as Quirarte really worked on improving his game for the spring season, he said.\n"Santiago's love for golf is shown in the way he practices," Mayer said. "I never thought I'd see someone put in as much work as (senior Jeff) Overton, but Santiago has outworked Overton if that's possible."\nLike most college freshmen, Quirarte has had to make many adjustments to college life. Quirarte has the added adjustment of becoming accustomed to a new culture and a new country that other freshmen golfers do not have to deal with. Quirarte said the adjustment to college life hasn't been too difficult, but admits he misses his mother's home cooking from time to time. His teammates, Quirarte adds, have made things much easier for him.\n"These guys are my brothers, like family," Quirarte said. "They have been a great support with friendship and giving rides and watching out for me."\nIf his past success is any indication for the future, Quirarte will have many great achievements as a Hoosier golfer.\n"Santiago is truly a special golfer with a bright future ahead," Mayer said.\n-- Contact Staff Writer Chris \nEngel at ccengel@indiana.edu.