Jack Nicklaus reminisces about Ohio State days
Written by Duane Ramsey | | news@toledofreepress.comLegendary golfer Jack Nicklaus was the keynote speaker at the banquet for the NCAA Golf Championships May 28 at UT’s Savage Arena.
The banquet took place following final play of the individual golf championships at Inverness Country Club in Toledo on May 26 through 28. The team play and championship will be determined in play by 30 teams and 156 players on May 29 and 30.
“I have a special fondness and respect for collegiate golf and my experience at Ohio State is something I still cherish to this day. I look forward to sharing an evening with these young men,” Nicklaus said before the banquet.
“They asked me, and I accepted their invitation,” he said when asked about donating his time to speak at the banquet at no cost.
Nicklaus was the NCAA and Big Ten Champion in 1961, representing Ohio State University before his professional career, which included 118 victories and a record 18 major championships.
“This week will be a special one in the lives of these young men, not only because of the level of competition they will face but also because of a venue that has such a rich and storied history attached to it,” Nicklaus said.
“It’s ironic that at age 17, Inverness was the site of my first U.S. Open and first major championship. I never won here but always enjoyed playing here,” Nicklaus said. “I can only hope these young men can walk away with the wealth of special memories I did that week.”
On June 1, Nicklaus will welcome the four college champions from NCAA Divisions I, II and III, as well as the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, to the final round of the Memorial Tournament, the PGA tour event he founded and hosts annually at Muirfield in Dublin. The Golf Coaches Association of America’s Player of the Year Awards in all four divisions are named after Nicklaus.
“It’s a nice honor to be recognized by it,” Nicklaus said. “I’ve been involved in college golf for many years and was happy to see the NCAA incorporate match play in its championship because match play toughens players.”
He also said he looks forward to playing with Tiger Woods in a skins game on June 2 before Woods competes in the Memorial.
“Tiger Woods will break my record eventually, and I hope I’m around to congratulate him,” he said.
Nicklaus spoke about his career with the media for about 30 minutes at Inverness before leaving to attend the banquet at UT.
“This tournament has been great for UT, Toledo and Inverness. Everyone from UT has been wonderful to work with,” said Jon Miller, president of Inverness Country Club. “The kids are enjoying every minute of it.”
It was the second time UT has hosted the NCAA golf tournament at Inverness since UT first hosted it there in 1944. The next major tournament to be hosted at Inverness will be the U.S. Senior Open in 2011, said Miller. It will be the second time for that event last played there in 2003.
