The IU Athletics Department brought in a motivational speaker to talk to the men’s golf team in fall 2015. The speaker had the student-athletes write their short- and long-term goals on a note card.
One of the note cards contained now-senior Andrew Havill’s aspirations in ink. After playing just 13 tournaments in two seasons, Havill’s card said he did not want to miss out on another competition.
“I put that list in my wallet and look at it from time to time, and I have other goals on there that I’m looking to achieve, but it’s been great to be able to add to the team for the last two years,” Havill said.
After Iowa eliminated IU in the Big Ten Match Play Championship on Feb. 10, IU Coach Mike Mayer said the team reevaluated its goals.
“Goals can be hard,” Mayer said. “Goals can be simple. They can be achievable or unachievable. The goal is to get better every day. That constitutes our short- and long-term goals.”
Junior Christian Fairbanks emerged against Iowa and claimed the only Hoosier victory in head-to-head play. He also finished first in what Mayer described as an incredibly competitive qualifying match last week.
Fairbanks only competed in one stroke play tournament in the fall, but as his play continues to stand out, his role continues to change. He’s in the No. 5 spot for the Hoosiers this weekend, a position that has been a revolving door the entire season.
As for the other slots, Havill remains at the top, followed by junior Brendon Doyle, freshman Brock Ochsenreiter and sophomore Jake Brown. Though their roles have remained consistent, Mayer said their play has not.
The team's finishes before Big Ten match play went from 6th to 14th to 11th to 2nd and back to 14th. They have leaned on young players like Brown and Ochsenreiter this season. Yet despite their inconsistency, Brown said he doesn’t believe this has affected their goals, long- or short-term.
“The goal is to get to the postseason,” Brown said. “We are not ousted by any means. To get back to the postseason, it’s going to take a lot of hard work and even more focus next year.”
While players like Brown have next year to look to, Havill’s aspirations in golf have a matter of weeks to play out. Havill’s breakout junior season last year included making every tournament with the team. He hasn’t missed one this year, either.
Mayer said Havill’s job is to set the example for the players who will take his position next year. He’s gone from writing his goals down on a notecard to seeing them played out on the course.
“It’s hard to juggle everything you have to in college,” Mayer said. “It’s a difficult transition to make. The first couple years his focus wasn’t where it needed to be, but he’s handled it extremely well and become our number one player.”
