Adams adjusting to college golf

By the time Kenny Adams finished his high school golf career, he was the CIF individual boys champion. Now Adams, who had not played golf before entering Fallbrook High School, faces the task of working his way up in college golf.

Adams now plays golf for Cal State San Marcos. “It’s a much bigger step up from high school,” he said.

College golf begins with a handful of fall tournaments, recesses until February, and then resumes for the heart of the season. In the case of Cal State San Marcos, which is an NAIA school, the season culminates with the regionals and nationals in May (the nationals may be held as late as early June in some years) provided that the school fares well enough at the regionals to qualify for the nationals.

The split season isn’t that much of a transition, but college golf also includes multi-round tournaments while most high school matches other than the CIF tournament consist of 18 holes. “Definitely harder to play the 36-hole days and then 18 more the following day,” Adams said. “It takes a lot out of you, and it brings the meaning of working out into play.”

It may take Adams a while to adjust to the 36-hole and 54-hole matches, but in Cal State San Marcos’ second tournament of the year September 26-27 Adams had the Cougars’ lowest score at the University of Idaho Vandal Classic. The University of Idaho Golf Course in Moscow totals 6,663 yards and is a par-71 course, and Adams shot rounds of 74, 72, and 71 for a score of 217 to lead the team and finish 21st among individual golfers. The majority of teams in that tournament were affiliated with the NCAA’s Division I rather than the NAIA.

On October 18 and October 19 the Cougars played at the Bakersfield Country Club for the Elco, Inc., Intercollegiate, also known as the Cal State Bakersfield Invitational. The par-72, 6,819-yard course was little trouble for Adams in the first two rounds, after which he stood third with scores of 70 and 68. A 78-stroke final round gave him a score of 216, placing him second on the team and tying him for 11th in the tournament.

“He needs to relax a little bit more, especially in the final round,” said Cal State San Marcos coach Fred Hanover. “If he just plays normal the whole time, he’s fine.”

Hanover cites that goal as the area in which Adams can most improve. “He kind of puts too much pressure on himself to do well,” Hanover said.

The Cougars’ February matches included the Drake Invitational February 14-15, hosted by Drake University but played in Fallbrook at the Pala Mesa Resort. Adams had three rounds of 73 on the par-72, 6,467-yard course to lead the team and tie for ninth among individual golfers with a score of 219. The 36-hole Battle of the Lake at the Lake San Marcos Country Club saw Adams tie for tenth with a score of 147; he had rounds of 73 and 74 on the par-71, 6,356-yard course and placed second among the Cougar golfers. The day after that tournament concluded February 27, the Cougars hosted the Cougar Classic Men’s Golf Invitational at the San Luis Rey Downs Country Club. The 6,523-yard, par-71 Bonsall course produced rounds of 70, 74, and 74 for Adams, whose score of 218 was third among Cougar golfers and tied for tenth overall.

“He’s probably the best freshman I’ve ever had, and he’s way ahead of the curve as far as freshmen go,” Hanover said. “He’s only going to get better.”

Adams initially attended Bonsall Elementary School before his family moved to Fallbrook. He attended Potter Junior High School before beginning high school. Adams had played baseball before high school, but he switched to golf as a freshman as he believed he was too small to be successful in baseball. Adams, whose birthday is in October, was 13 when he began playing golf in ninth grade.

Adams spent four years on Fallbrook High School’s varsity golf squad. He first reached the CIF finals as a sophomore. In his junior year he tied for ninth in the CIF tournament, earning him a berth to the sectional match at the Southern California Golf Club.

Adams reached the CIF finals for the third time in 2004. The first round of the CIF finals was played May 18 at Warner Springs Ranch, and Adams shot a 67 to lead all participants. The players who made the cut returned for the final 18 holes May 27 at the Pauma Valley Country Club. Although his score of 72 for the second round was one over par, wet grounds helped contribute to high scores and when Adams birdied the 17th hole he had a two-stroke lead prior to the final hole. Adams was even on the 18th hole and the two-stroke lead held to give Fallbrook High School its first-ever boys individual CIF champion and give the school a sweep of the individual championships following Megan McLeod’s win in the girls tournament the previous fall.

Hanover had first watched Adams in early 2004. “I saw him play, and I was really impressed,” Hanover said.

Hanover and Adams played a round of golf together at San Luis Rey Downs during the recruiting process.

“Fred was one of the only coaches that would really give me an opportunity,” Adams said.

Adams was also invited to play for Texas Christian University and Central Florida. “I really didn’t want to travel that far,” he said.

He chose Cal State San Marcos since it was close to home. “I was fortunate that after he won San Diego Section CIF that he still decided to come,” Hanover said. “I’m really glad he decided to stay with us.”

Adams had not signed a letter of intent with Cal State San Marcos, and Hanover said that honoring his unofficial commitment to Cal State San Marcos rather than choosing to play for an NCAA school was just as impressive to the coach as Adams’ golfing ability. “I’m thrilled that he honored his commitment,” Hanover said.

Since participation in pro golf tours is based on qualifying rather than on the strength of a college team, playing for an NAIA school is not a handicap to Adams’ aspiration of eventually playing professionally. Playing against collegiate competition, according to Adams, is a benefit to his future plans. “The competition is greater, and it helps me move up a level,” he said. “This is just a great training ground.”

Adams believes that he will improve throughout his college career. “I’m trying,” he said.