NU golf team’s mental toughness can bring victories

All year, Nebraska coach Bill Spangler has waited for Scott Willman to break out and lead the Cornhusker golf team. On Tuesday, he finally did.

Willman shot a career-best 69 on his way to a tie for second place with a one-over-par 217 overall at the UMKC Bill Ross Intercollegiate.

Nebraska finished second in the team standings as well – just five strokes short of champion Central Arkansas, continuing a run of near-misses for the Cornhuskers. NU has finished in the top three in three of its four competitions this season but has yet to win.

Spangler believes the team could have won all three close matches but is quick to note that his team can only do so much to win.

"The silver lining in losing is that it isn't always our fault," Spangler said. "We can only control what we do, no one else. The best we can hope for is a chance to win."

If Willman maintains his momentum from last weekend, the Huskers will always have that chance.

Spangler said Willman had a career-best day because he drove the ball really well and hit a lot of fairways.

After averaging a score of 76 per round last spring season, Willman has lowered his average by two strokes this year, culminating in his three-under par 69 Tuesday.

Willman said he exceeded his own expectations.

"I've been waiting for some good rounds awhile now," Willman said. "I didn't hit the ball that well, but I cut down on mental errors that usually hurt my score."

While Willman was surprised by the performance, his teammates weren't.

Freshman Neil Dufford saw a lot of promise in Willman and thinks Tuesday's performance was only the beginning for his sophomore teammate.

"Scott's got the game to go extremely low," Dufford said. "He's just getting into his game right now."

After finishing below 25th place in his past two tournaments, Willman looked confident on the course, according to Dufford.

Dufford said Willman hasn't only been helping the team on the course. Off the links, his energetic personality has been infectious.

"He's one of the nicest guys on the team," Dufford said. "He's awesome, very fun to have on the team."

Dufford isn't the only believer in Willman. Spangler said his latest result will be a jolt for Willman's confidence and believes his best is still yet to come.

For Willman and the Cornhuskers, the final competition of the fall season will take place Monday at the Herb Wimberly Intercollegiate in Las Cruces, N.M.

Spangler calls this next tournament vital because of his team's close finishes without a victory. Willman agreed, saying Nebraska would have two more tournament victories this season if the team didn't get off to such a slow start.

"Our confidence level is way up for this tournament," Willman said. "We want to get comfortable with the course. We need to change our mindset and make a hot start."

Spangler said if Nebraska can improve on its mental toughness early in tournaments, the Huskers are talented enough to consistently win. And, he added, when the wins come, they'll come in bunches.

"I want all of our hard work to pay off," Willman said. "We belong on top."

seanwhalen@dailynebraskan.com