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 Kevin Chappell won the first men’s individual golf title in UCLA history. After Chappell’s tee shot on the par-3 17th hole at Purdue University’s Kampen Course splashed in the water during the final round of the NCAA Championship, the Bruins’ hopes of winning the national title appeared to be sunk as well. The team led by as many as eight strokes on the back nine, but the lead over Stanford was down to one at the time. From the drop area, Chappell’s third shot ended off the green in deep rough. To make bogey, he would need to hole a 35-foot chip, which he did, but only after redirecting his thoughts to the individual title. “Once I hit it in the water, I thought that was it (for the team),” Chappell said. “So, in a way, by getting kind of selfish, that ultimately helped the team. It allowed me to refocus.” Knowing again that the team championship was within reach, Chappell kept his focus on No. 18, a hole he double bogeyed in the second round and bogeyed in the third. “As soon as I made [the bogey on 17], I went to the 18th tee to collect myself and get calm,” said Chappell, whose par on the final hole gave the Bruins a one-shot victory over Stanford and a two-shot triumph over USC. Chappell’s final-round 76 and 2-under 286 total gave him a three-shot victory over Indiana’s Jorge Campillo and Washington’s Nick Taylor for the individual title. “It’s amazing to me,” Chappell said. “It’s such an honor to hold that title.” It’s even more special considering the emotional turmoil he has struggled with since last October, when his brother Casey, 24, died unexpectedly of diabetes-related heart failure. About six months later, tragedy struck again when Chappell’s best friend from high school, Joey Eischen, died in his sleep. Chappell had already dedicated the season to the memory of his brother, who was studying agronomy at College of the Desert with the goal of becoming a golf course superintendent. His teammates provided emotional support after each tragedy, Chappell said, and they are the reason the team championship is more important to him than the individual title. “The biggest thing for me is that I really took pride in being the team’s captain this year,” he said. “After losing my brother, I wanted to get back to the team. It was the best thing for me. All the little things they did make up the most significant aspects of this season.” Despite two victories and seven top-five finishes in 11 starts, it took his achievement at nationals for Chappell to confidently think about his future. “To go toe-to-toe in nationals I guess means I’m pretty good,” said Chappell, who said he planned on turning pro after competing in the Palmer Cup in Scotland last month. “All the things I accomplished were goals that I had made early in the season. Knowing all the hard work paid off – that’s the best part of it for me.” |
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