Imagine you slowly created a bond through progress and empowerment.
Then, your first love returns to make you remember what you’re missing. That’s how St. Joseph Central Catholic senior Clay Stull must have felt.
He spent most of his life with basketball dreams, picked up a golf bag for the first time shortly before high school started and continues his college career with a club at Lourdes University.
“Originally, the goal was to play basketball,” he said. “In the summer, I never thought about golf in college. A couple coaches reached out. Golf is a great game, I’m so glad I picked up that club. I’ve come a long way; it’s gone by quick.
"I’m thankful to my friends and coaches and family who helped me through ups and downs. I’m blessed to have an opportunity to play in college.”
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Like many of us, the coronavirus pandemic was too restrictive for Stull and classmates Grant Pert and Cooper Talikka.
“I wanted something to do in the fall after such a long period not doing anything,” Stull said.
Stull took a driver and wedge from an old set of clubs belonging to older brother Cole. He purchased the remaining clubs for $15 at a garage sale during the summer.
“The biggest thing was to just hit the ball,” he said. “Not chunk it, slice it or top it. Hit it, solid and straight. That was the main focus.”
He earned status as fourth man as a freshman.
“When I first started, I had no clue what I was doing,” he said. “I never had touched a club. I told everyone, ‘Tell me what to do, I have no idea how to do it.’ It started to turn into more of a game than a hobby. I made progress, but I definitely wasn’t the best, getting my feet wet, learning something every day.
"I’ve always had fun, but I want to succeed.”
Stull was first-team in the Sandusky Bay Conference River Division his final two years, but he wasn’t thrilled with scores as a senior.
“I had a rough season,” he said. “If I needed a confidence boost, I thought back to sophomore year.”
Stull’s game developed rapidly and he carded 80 to finish third at sectional and 78 at Stone Ridge Golf Club in Bowling Green to finish ninth at 78 as a sophomore, one year after his first chip.
“Being athletic, I had a pretty fluid swing, lanky arms,” he said. “Sophomore year, I worked more on proper ball striking, putting. Junior year I went for more distance. Short game work. Starting to shape shots.”
Stull had to step back as strangers asked how long he’d been playing and if he was serious about the game. The inquiries came because onlookers were impressed with Stull’s potential.
He was opening a new door, with a wedge. It wasn’t always easy.
“There were times I wanted to quit or I didn’t feel like practicing or I was frustrated in a match and wanted to leave,” he said. “Keeping your head in it is most important. I look back, the only way to go is up. I’m proud of where my game has come and I’m looking to progress as much as I can.
"It’s been quite a journey but I’m thankful I picked up the club and I look forward to the next level.”
He was second-team all-conference as a sophomore.
“As a junior, there were bumps in the road, but I stayed consistent,” he said. “I didn’t make it as far as I wanted, but I was decent. As a senior, I needed as much experience as I could.”
He tried not to think ahead.
“Golf requires mental strength,” he said. “Golf is hard enough. People don’t play, or they play just for fun. It’s tough; up and down, left and right. It never left the back of my mind, but I tried to focus on the team and doing well for St. Joe.”
Stull earned four letters apiece for golf and baseball, along with three for basketball. He always concentrates on the team.
That’s the first reason it wasn’t good enough for golf to be fun.
“I always want to do well in everything I do, academics or sports,” he said. “I wanted to do the best I could. College (golf) wasn’t a thought, but I wanted to do the best I could.”
To his surprise, just as Stull started to consider himself a golfer, basketball barged back in and made things difficult and awkward. He was offered a chance to continue with basketball at Tiffin.
“It was a tough decision,” he said. “I chose golf because I can play for the rest of my life and it’s a great sport. I have a lot of fun on the course. I’m excited to keep my athletic career going and play at the next level.
“NAIA is a good conference with good athletes. I’m blessed; my hard work paid off. I decided based on where I could best set myself up academically and athletically and felt most at home.”
Fremont Ross graduate Brandon Hoelzer played at Lourdes and has his PGA Tour card.
“That got me excited,” Stull said.
Uncle Aidan McDonnell has been Stull’s main practice partner the last four years. That will continue this summer.
“He’s been awesome on my golf journey,” Stull said. “He’s there to play with me and take me golfing. He was there as it turned from fun to competition. This is a big summer to prepare. I’m out every day since the weather starts.
"Short game, irons, short shots, distance, course management. I’m trying to put it all together.”
mhorn@gannett.com
419-307-4892
X: @MatthewHornNH
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