Noah McWilliams, who is currently leading the Jackson T. Stephens Cup, has a chance to be one of the best breakout stories of the season.
After @JakeAmosGolf got the head job at @LSUMensGolf last summer and seeing McWilliams play for the first time, he told his assistant coach, Jace Long, of McWilliams: “This guy is either going to be an All-American or he’ll never play for me. He looked so good, but all his little stuff was terrible. … He was just this country kid who stood up and ripped it.”
Amos almost immediately told McWilliams to copy whatever star players Algot Kleen and Arni Sveinsson do – and to McWilliams’ credit, he did. He won an individual event last fall, the Bayou City Collegiate, but otherwise, he didn’t post a top-20 finish in seven other starts. But as he started to address some of the low-hanging fruit – how to practice, how to train, etc. – he started to unlock his potential.
A year ago around this time, McWilliams wasn’t even ranked in WAGR. Now, the junior from Benton, Louisiana, is No. 287 after a summer that included top-4 finishes at the Louisiana Amateur and Monroe Invitational. He also qualified for his first U.S. Amateur and tied for eighth in the Tigers’ fall opener, last week’s Visit Knoxville Collegiate.
McWilliams’ 6-under 64 was his second 64 already this fall after not shooting better than 65 previously in his college career.
McWilliams' nickname on the team is "Kenny Powers," after the popular TV character. You could also call him the "Bayou DJ." And maybe by next May, he'll be able to call himself an All-American, too.
@scottconso@ihatebbls In all other cases, once the pylon is touched with ball in possession the play is over and it’s a TD. Why would this be any different? Once he contacted the pylon with possession of the ball, whatever happened after that should be irrelevant.
@lsu_hq Nuss is mid. Can’t hit the deep ball, stares down receivers, and can’t escape pressure. He’s a good kid and loyalty is respected, but he’s got to improve in those areas.