Nasby

Jack Nasby's sophomore year at St. Thomas started out so well.

Then it took a gut punch in late winter.

Instead of Florida sunshine and elite national competition, Nasby's final month of school has brought silver linings -- and a lesson in perseverance.

The Edina, Minn., native broke through a crowded Tommie Men's Golf lineup to gain one of the five varsity playing spots for last October's MIAC Championships. Nasby seized the moment on the 54-hole event, shortended to two days by a washed-out opening Saturday.

After an opening round of 77, Nasby came back to shoot 72 and 71 and finish tied for third place out of 50 golfers. His 54-hole total of 220 let him make All-MIAC -- one of three sophomores or freshmen to close in the top 10.

An even bigger reward for Nasby came as he helped St. Thomas win its third consecutive league team championship. That let the Purple claim a spot in the May 2020 NCAA Championships. It was supposed to be the program's seventh nationals appearance in nine years.

Nasby's final-round score of 71 at MIACs tied for his collegiate best score. St. Thomas' lead was cut to five strokes on the final afternoon, but the Purple closed well and won by 14 shots over runner-up Gustavus.

One week later, St. Thomas finished a busy fall of seven competitions over seven consecutive weekends with play at the elite Golfweek tournament in Destin, Fla. The Toms took seventh out of 18 teams, including many of D-III's top squads.

Nasby's 74.5 stroke average this school year (15 rounds) ranked eighth best among MIAC players.

That was quite a jump from his freshman season. Nasby's 79.3 stroke average in 2018-19 (eight rounds) was tied for ninth on his team and tied for 50th in the conference.

Lost Opportunity

Nasby and his No. 6-ranked Tommie team was looking forward to a short spring season break in preparation for the mid-May NCAA meet in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.

Then the Covid-19 outbreak denied him his first trip to the national meet.

A double major in Real Estate and Finance with a minor in data analytics, Nasby is a busy fellow. He also serves as co-President of the Tommies' Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

He's required to volunteer 40 hours with a non-profit group for his upcoming 2020 summer-school business class. He landed an assignment locally with the Caddie U program and with the Tim Herron Prep Tour.

Besides achieving valuable business and volunteer experience with these respected golf organizations, Nasby is gained organizing skills, too. He was tasked with helping create a "Pop-up" playing opportunity in Covid-19 times for Minnesouta college and elite prep players of both genders.

Over a five-week span, several one-day tournaments will be played around the region, Tournaments so far in Hudson, Wis., and Mankato have attracted between 50-75 players of both genders, mostly collegians but also some high shoolers. Individuals have the freedom to play when it works in their schedules, as some colleges are still finishing classes and projects and taking final exams.

Nasby explained that social distancing is strictly enforced, thanks in large part to the GolfStatus mobile app being tested by players. "It's the wave of the future," Nasby predicted. "You use this new mobile app, and it changes the way you traditionally have operated while keeping score. Instead of using pencils and signing scorecards, you just come to the course, check in on your phone, keep your own score, and check any course or golf rules, all on your phone, all remotely using GolfStatus.

"You can play and keep social distancing. You finish the last hole, input your score on the phone, there's no handshakes, you just head to the parking lot and you drive home."

Nasby said through "social media and a lot of word of mouth," Minnesota collegiate golfers learned of this new idea to provide these May-June competitions, which can serve as a bridge to what's hoped will be a near normal summer of the annual Minnesota PGA competitions.

College teams being represented by one or more players on the pop-up tour include Minnesota, Kansas, Miami of Ohio, Alabama, St. Thomas, St. John's, Gustavus, St. Mary's, Dayton, Florida Golf Coast, South Dakota State, North Dakota State, North Dakota, South Dakota, Northern Iowa, UW-Eau Claire and Minnesota State.

Tim Herron Caddy U started two years Tim Herron fall top

We decided started to start up Pop up tour

10 min intravels three groups software mobile scoring no handshakes, no scorecards

51 uys 3 girls Monday 70 signed up 81 field

colleg players top HS players... White Eagle Hudson, Monday Mankato, Jewl in Lake City future, Litte Crow, Pebble

Minnesota PGA startiup mid-June

Team indiv state championships for high school LumpCo Tour partner Caddy U

Mark Haugejorde

Kisla, Bailey, Nasby, Michel yesterday.. 4-5

Started Business 200 class non-prfit summer 40 credits of non=profit Caddy U to work there Nicklaus Design transitioned into this... tournaets events communications

50 hours so far thru last month

continun double major commercial Real estate Finance minor data analytics

a little bit of both, feed off each other for ideas.. random college kids play with college, mobile app live scoring

click check in on your phone, scoresheets , rules on you phone all remotely GolfStatus

Caddy U

a lot of word of mouth SJU, GAC, UST, SMU, Minn, Kansas, Miami, Dayton, Flor GC, Alabama, SD State ND State UDN South Dakota, UNI, Wis EC, MSU Mankato

intern privcate wealth management in the past

Testing mobile app GolfSTATUS smooth running

Show we can social distance, use mobile app ... wave of the f

may get away from

pick and choose your events based on your class schedule gives you flexibility.

social distance and testing GolfSTATUS, future

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