Virginia sophomore Ben James had high hopes of clinching the NCAA Division I men’s golf title on Memorial Day. There was a chance to force a playoff, but a 15-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole fell short, leaving him in a six-way tie for second, just one shot behind champion Hiroshi Tai of Georgia Tech.
However, the painful memory from the tournament was not the missed birdie putt, but the slow-play penalty that James and his playing partner, Baard Skogen of Texas Tech, received during the first round. Both players were assessed one-stroke penalties on the par-4 17th hole, while the third player in the group, Ben Lorenz of Oklahoma, did not receive a penalty.
Despite the setback, James managed to stay in contention with scores of 71-69 and then scored 73 in the final round, just one shot short of the title. Reflecting on the incident, James expressed his frustration, stating, “It’s the rules, but it sucks. It stings. There’s such a fine line in golf.”
Following the penalty, James had a discussion with NCAA officials to present his viewpoint on the situation. Despite feeling that the result was unlikely to change, he felt it was important to share his perspective. With his impressive performance in the following days, it seemed that James was able to put the issue behind him.
Looking ahead, James will have more opportunities to compete in the tournament, as Virginia is set to play against Auburn in the match-play quarterfinals. Despite the disappointment, James remained positive, stating, “I played great. I had so much fun today. It was so cool having all the people out there, and it felt like a tour event. I was smiling a lot and trying to enjoy it the best I can.”
In the world of competitive golf, every stroke matters, and the rules must be upheld. While James’ experience at the NCAA Championships was marred by the slow-play penalty, it is clear that he is determined to overcome this setback and embrace future opportunities in the sport.