Jolene Nacapuy
Assistant Sports Editor
Freshman Alec Spencer likes to listen to music while he relaxes.
“I like … hip-hop and rap,” Spencer said. “Kid Cudi would have to be my favorite.”
With the golf season ending, he is trying to get through finals with Kid Cudi on his playlist and a quote that his mom always tells him.
“You blame no one and expect nothing.”
He uses this mantra in his studies and on the golf course.
Spencer, who graduated from Mount Carmel High School in San Diego, is already doing big things at La Verne.
“La Verne is closer to where my mom is and I had the chance to play golf,” Spencer said. “I like the fact that it is a small school and the program is great.”
With help from his dad to get him started, Spencer has been playing since he was seven years old.
“I was watching TV and golf came on and I said to myself that I wanted to do that because it looked fun,” Spencer said. “My dad played a little and helped me get started.”
He played for fun until he was a freshman in high school then he started to play competitively.
“I see myself improve each and every year,” Spencer said. “It is not really having long term goals, but just seeing how much better I can get.”
As a freshman on the team, he is surrounded by outstanding players, Spencer is not one bit different.
“Alec is a reliable player and at a really high level of maturity for a freshman,” junior teammate Kelby Scharmann said. “He is one of the best players on our team.”
Spencer was also named the 2014 Ken Sherman Freshman of the Year.
“He works hard, very constructive and motivated,” head coach Chris Davis said.
He is also a candidate for West Region and national freshman of the year.
“He just knows how to play his own game and sticks to it,” Scharmann said. “He stays focused and doesn’t try to do too much.”
Spencer shot a four-under 68 on the first day of the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championships and an even 72 in round two.
But he fell short in the final round, finishing with a seven-over 223 that was still good enough for third place overall.
Being on and off the course with a great group of teammates and coaches is fun and great memories for freshman year for Spencer.
“Alec is focused and brings a quirky sense of humor,” Davis said. “He says so little but when he does, it’s epic.”
The golf team finished the season in sixth place and the NCAA Championships Friday at the Grandover Resort in Greensboro, N.C.
“We had a good nationals finish placing sixth,” Scharmann said. “Sadly we didn’t win SCIAC conference this year but overall it was a good season.”
Spencer scored the lowest for La Verne in round two with 1-under 71 and had five birdies in the next 11 holes, finishing with a 14-over 302 and tied for 31st.
“We’ve had our moments this season and haven’t fully clicked,” Spencer said. “It has been a good year that we’re putting together and hopefully next season is even better.”
Jolene Nacapuy can be reached at jolene.nacapuy@laverne.edu.
