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In high school John Hurley never left his home state of Nebraska to compete. Now he's beginning his second season down south with A&M's golf team.

Texas A&M golfer John Hurley said he wants to win some rings.

Long drive

T exas A&M sophomore golfer John Hurley is living 902 miles from his hometown of O'Neill, Neb., with a few golf clubs, his high school success and a dream of being a national champion.

By: Michael Sullivan

Posted: 9/10/08

As a student at St. Mary's High School, Hurley was a leader on the golf course. He won 31 high school tournaments, two individual state titles and was one shot short of a third consecutive title his senior year.

Away from school, Hurley was well known in the Nebraska golf community. In 2005, Hurley was selected as the Nebraska Junior Golf Association Golfer of the Year. Hurley made golf history by also being crowned the Nebraska Amateur Golfer of the Year that same year. No other golfer had ever received both awards in the same year.

Although Hurley found success in Nebraska, he never left his home state to play in national tournaments. Outside of the state his name was not well known.

"In high school I didn't really play any national tournaments," Hurley said. "No one really even knew who I was."

An old friendship, a phone call and a visit to Texas helped lead Hurley to Aggieland. His resumé of success was noticed by the Aggies after Hurley's swing coach, a long- time friend and golf coach of A&M Senior Associate Athletics Director for External Operations Jeff Schmahl, suggested that Texas A&M coaches take a look at Hurley.

After Aggie men's golf Head Coach J.T. Higgins saw the 6-foot-4-inch, 200 pound prospect, he knew Hurley could help bring the Aggies to a Big 12 title.

"I was very impressed with being from a small town how good he really was," Higgins said. "He was very raw and I was impressed with how much talent he already had."

Coming into his freshman year at A&M, Hurley looked to continue his high school dominance at the collegiate level. Unfortunately for Hurley, success did not come right away. He qualified for the traveling team and appeared in three tournaments. During the three tournaments he posted an average score of 75.89, compared to his 69.3 average as a senior in high school.

"Coming into college I wanted to make the traveling team," Hurley said. "I was able to win a qualifier which showed me that I was able to compete with these guys, but then for whatever reason I started to fall off toward the end of the year."

After a difficult start, Hurley sat down with Higgins and they decided it would be best to redshirt and take his second year off from tournaments.

"I expected to walk right in and compete, but there was a lot to learn," Hurley said. "I took the year off and it allowed me to get caught up in school, learn time management and really work on my game. I need to figure out how to score."

Hurley, who averages 330 to 340 yards off the tee box on a calm day, spent the year working on his approach shots and short game.

"He is a terrific ball striker and has great length off the tee," Higgins said. "John has improved a lot with his wedges, his scoring clubs. Now we just need to continue working on his short games, start turning bogeys into pars."

Taking a year off has proven to be productive for Hurley. In qualifying tournaments, his scoring average drop almost three strokes. In July, Hurley traveled back to Nebraska to compete in the Nebraska Amateur Championship where he finished in second place. During the tournament Hurley was the only competitor to score par or better in all four rounds.

"I expect to win some tournaments and some championships," Hurley said. "Nothing would be better than walking off the 18th green as national champions. I want to win some rings."

Next tourney
In the 2008-2009 golf season, the rest of the men's golf team will compete in tournaments throughout the country. They will kick off their season on Sept. 22 at the Adams Cup in R.I. At the end of April they will look to capture a Big 12 title at the Big 12 Championship hosted by Missouri in Hutchinson, Kan.

In a nutshell
Favorite club: Driver
Favorite Restaurant: Texas Roadhouse
Favorite TV show: 24
Favorite Athlete:Michael Jordan
Favorite Sport other than golf:Basketball