JogginFrog
Active Member
Is it a talent issue? Asking as an honest question. As you noted, the team lost one guy off a squad that made nationals and nearly made the top-15 cut. I recall Golf Channel saying to watch out for the Frogs this year. Coach certainly scheduled like they would be good. And if (a) one of the two transfers had worked out, or (b) at least one returnee showed progress, you'd think they'd have been fine.And there is no influx of talent coming unless they can run some guys off and fill from the portal.
It seemed like they had the latter when Berzina had a strong summer and then started the season with a top-15 finish at Pebble in a loaded field. Then, Gums came on with a pair of top-10 finishes, they beat 4 top-25 teams as Colonial, and they tied the #2-ranked team at the Big 12 Match Play. With Celli coming back for the spring, you're thinking, "They'll be fine."
But they didn't have much margin, given the strong fall scheduling. They didn't light it up in Hawaii, and when they were literally blown off the course at La Quinta needing a result, the path back to NCAAs was hard to find. At that point, they seemed to lose interest.
Looking at the returning talent:
- Gums -- stepped it up to fill the hole (he's the highest-ranked Frog in Golfstat at 140)--3 top 10s and 71% finish percentage
- Laussot -- averaging a stroke aside better than last year (ranked 192) with a finish % at 73% (best of his career by far)
- Frimodt -- finish percentage down a tick, but his scoring average is actually better than last year; serviceable
- Celli -- still the 141st amateur in the world; posted a top-10 in his first start; but after La Quinta, his season seemed over before it started; can understand if he's lost motivation; could have used him in the fall
- Oleson -- big step back in scoring this year; has missed some action--not sure if a slump or injury related; still seems like a ton of talent
- Berzina -- made a leap over the summer and then top-15 in a loaded field at Pebble; but Maridoe led into a cycle of shaky results and inconsistent playing time; a reset is needed; with the Bellinger scholarship, I hope that happens at TCU
Not sure I would want to offload any of those guys if they really want to be at TCU. But I want them all to make it clear that TCU is where they want to be and where they are committed to becoming better. And they should show that in practice despite not having much to play for. Every scholly is a renewable 1-year deal; guys should practice like they want a renewal.
I don't know that Massey or the others have the potential to take TCU to a better place, but I'm also not sure how many scholarship slots those guys are consuming. So, do I care if they stay on the roster? Only if the model of "create a highly competitive culture of internal competition" isn't working. Maybe it's not (and maybe the Covid allowances have just complicated things). If you need to give assurances of playing time to sign the guys you want, go ahead. But don't also keep a big stable of walk-ons or 10-20%ers who are told that every week is an opportunity. Build a cohesive unit of 7 or 8 and go to war.