By Gloria Austin
Staff Writer
Evan McCarthy was a three-sport athlete at Katahdin High School and the 2009 graduate has transferred from the University of Maine Orono to Missouri Western State to continue his education in political science, while also becoming a student in the game of golf.
McCarthy’s high school golf team qualified for the Class C States his sophomore, junior and senior years, and he competed in the individual meet those years, as well, at Natanis Golf Course in Vassalboro. Last summer, McCarthy could be found on the Va-Jo-Wa Golf Course and playing in local tournaments.
ON THE GREEN — Evan McCarthy lines up a putt on a golf course. McCarthy, a former Katahdin High School golfer, has experienced success at Missouri Western State college.
McCarthy also took top honors in the Men’s Division of the County Open.
“I think I kind of surprised people,” he said.
Looking for a chance to play golf (more than four months) and continue his studies, McCarthy began to check out other colleges, which led him to Missouri Western State.
“I wanted to be able to work on my golf game more,” said McCarthy. “My transfer was more opportunity-based and climate-related. I had looked online and I had seen the scores and realized I could compete here.”
So, he moved to Missouri last summer and the work began.
“I moved out here knowing that in a four-month time, I had to kind of improve my golf game,” explained McCarthy. “I had to shave five or six strokes off my normal scores.”
Joining a golf course near his home, McCarthy said he was introduced to the right people who connected him with the Missouri Western State coach.
“He gave me the opportunity to try out,” said McCarthy. “I walked on the first semester, but I was unable to play most of the tournaments because my eligibility was waiting to being passed by the NCAA. But, I was able to compete in two tournaments; one in Tulsa and the other in St. Charles, a suburb of St. Louis.”
After his fall semester, his coach offered him a scholarship.
“Basically, it is a half scholarship,” explained McCarthy. “Usually I would have a half scholarship for each semester, but where I didn’t get one my first semester, he gave me a full scholarship for this semester. It was wonderful.”
This year, McCarthy is at Missouri Western State on a scholarship, playing Division II collegiate golf.
“In Maine, I find it hard for kids to really realize the opportunities they have,” said McCarthy. “I would suggest, and it can go for all sports, get out and look at Division II schools. There are tons of opportunities for kids to play any sport and be on a scholarship.”
Even though he’s only been playing a year collegiately, McCarthy is learning more about his game every day.
“The biggest thing I had to do was to learn how to plan my misses and recognize what my miss was,” he said. “When I played in Maine before for recreation, I, kind of more or less, didn’t know where my ball was going on a regular basis. So I have a swing coach I work with every two weeks or so and I work on that and I work really hard on my short game.”
Another difference for McCarthy is that in high school, he shot from a distance of 6,300 yards, but in college on most tournament courses, he is shooting from 7,300 yards.
McCarthy will be coming home around the early part of May.
“I won’t be working at the golf course this year, but I will definitely be playing a lot,” he said. “I am looking forward to enjoying the summer in Maine. I am also looking forward to playing some tournaments. Last summer, for about a month straight, it didn’t get below 100 degrees in Missouri.”
McCarthy has improved his handicap over the year, as well.
“I didn’t move down here until May and in a three-month time, my handicap when I left Maine was a 6 and the lowest I got last summer was 1.7,” said McCarthy. “I would advise younger players to challenge themselves and dedicate themselves to the game. I know it is hard because of the climate. But, I was able to get better.”
McCarthy also suggested listening to coaching tips.
“I have a teacher I work with here who has helped me a ton,” he said. “Golf is like any other sport, you are not going to be as good as you can be without a good coach.”
