MGLF: Vaughn Snyder Returns to Scarlet, Now as a Pro – Ohio State Buckeyes
7/31/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
Vaughn Snyder recently concluded his college career, finishing as a PING All-Midwest Region pick as well as Second Team All Big Ten. His senior season included two tournament victories and 10 rounds under par while finishing second on the Buckeyes with a 73.57 stroke average.
After winning the Ohio Open in his first tournament as a professional golf, Snyder returned to Scarlet Course this week with a sponsor exemption for the Nationwide Tour’s Nationwide Children’s Hospital Invitational and hopes to take advantage of the familiar, although challenging, grounds.
Compare Scarlet now as pro vs. three months ago as a college player. You obviously know the course, but is there any difference you feel being out there?
It’s a lot easier right now, that’s for sure. In the spring when we play in our tournament (the Robert Kepler Intercollegiate) and it’s like 40-50 degrees, it’s such a grind. It’s still going to be that way this week, but it’ll be a lot warmer and you’re going to have a chance to make some birdies out there. The scores will obviously be a lot better because of that and because of the level of competition.
Did winning the Ohio Open give you a little boost coming into this and for the rest of the summer?
Yeah, I really felt like I had been putting it well for a while but I just wasn’t making anything. I started to make some putts that week and I putted it pretty well this week so hopefully I can keep that rolling. And I’m driving the ball probably the as good as I’ve driven it in my life, so hopefully things will continue to work out well.
Do you feel like you have a little bit of an upper hand knowing pretty much every angle of this course?
Oh definitely. I know exactly where to hit it and where not to hit it. There are two or three guys in the field who know that.
How much do you think comfort will be for the Buckeyes in the field?
It will definitely help, especially for Bo, myself and Colin (Biles) who have played this golf course. It’s totally different from before so some of the older guys I don’t think will have the same comfort level as us. They still understand the golf course and what it’s about, with the same basic concepts of the course still there, but some of the breaks in the greens and a lot different.
What are your plans the rest of the summer?
Take it one week at a time, see how I do here. If you finish in the Top 25 you get to play again next week in the Nationwide event. There are some other smaller tournaments in the northern part of that state that I’m going to play in and then Q School (PGA Tour card qualifier) starts in September, not too far away.
DID YOU KNOW?: Snyder’s caddie for the event will be Ohio State senior-to-be Brad Wright. The two entered the University of Akron the same year to play golf for the Zips and both transferred to Ohio State during the 2007-08 season. Wright redshirted that season while Snyder played for the Buckeyes that spring. In their freshman season at Akron they played for Donnie Darr, who was named head coach of the Ohio State men’s golf team in July.
