The University of Mississippi Athletics
Catching Up With All-American Jonathan Randolph
7/7/2010 | Men's Golf
July 7, 2010
Jonathan Randolph has enjoyed an outstanding year on the links. The rising senior from Brandon, Miss., became the ninth All-American in the history of the Ole Miss men's golf program, earning first team honors from the Golf Coaches Association of America and Golfweek. In addition, he was named to the GCAA All-Nicklaus Team and the All-SEC first team. Randolph finished the year with the lowest stroke average (70.44) in a season by a Rebel to lead the SEC, and ended the year ranked No. 6 in the Golfweek Rankings. He posted three wins on the year, including two in the spring. Randolph finished with six top-five performances in seven starts this past spring, including third at the SEC Championship and the NCAA Southeast Regional. Randolph recently returned from Northern Ireland where he helped the United States capture the Palmer Cup. The All-American took time out from his busy schedule to discuss his recent success and future.
You just returned from helping the United States win the Palmer Cup. Talk about the experience and what it was like representing the U.S.
The experience was something that I will never forget. No team on either side of the competition has ever won more than two times in a row. This year the Europeans were going for that record-breaking third consecutive win. To go over to Europe and beat such a talented team on their home ground was really special.
You provided three points for the U.S., which proved huge in the final outcome (13-11). What was it like to be able to play a significant role in such a big event?
The players on both sides were immensely talented, and every point was highly contested. The fact that I was able to earn three points for the team was definitely big and also made the team victory that much sweeter in the end.
You've seen the Ryder Cup on TV and now you've experienced the same type thing at the collegiate level. What makes it such an exciting event?
The atmosphere is what makes this type of tournament so special. Anytime you have the chance to represent your country it will add to the excitement, and it will also throw in some extra pressure. When you mix all this in with a match-play format anything can happen, and it can happen fast!
What was the best part about the whole week?
The day before I got on my plane to Northern Ireland, Graeme McDowell won the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach. Graeme is a two-time Palmer Cup player and is also from Portrush. When he arrived back to his hometown, he brought his U.S. Open trophy out and came to see us. We all got to hang out and talk with him and even hold the trophy. That was very cool.
You had one of the most successful seasons for any golfer in the history of the program. What does it mean to you to be listed among so many great golfers at Ole Miss?
It definitely means a lot to me that my name is in the same ballpark as the greats that this program has seen. It is an honor and also a testament to what hard work and dedication can produce.
Coach Ross talks all the time about your attention to detail and meticulous practice routine. What motivates you?
My dad (along with my coaches VJ Trolio, and Tim Yelverton) has always been very helpful to me in more ways than one. Even when I was in high school they had the big picture in mind and would help me coordinate my practices around what I needed to do in order to get better in the long run. I committed to them and myself that perfect practice makes perfect, and that if I was going to spend my time trying to play this game I was going to do it right. There was no use in spending hours out there and getting accomplished what I could do with 30 minutes of deliberate practice.
What's left to accomplish before your college career is over?
Three things:
1. Win more individual titles
2. Help Ole Miss win the SEC Championship
3. Help Ole Miss advance to the NCAA Finals at Karsten Creek (Stillwater, Okla.)
You've had a busy year on the golf course. Do you get any time away from golf?
Yes, it has been a very busy year, but I'll always find a little time away from golf. I have a good group of friends that are fun to hang out with. We don't get much of an off-season so I have to sneak in my fishing and whatnot whenever possible!
What does the rest of your summer include?
I have the Southern Amateur at Shoal Creek in Birmingham July 14-17. Then I go to a Nationwide Tour event in Ohio called the Nationwide Children's Hospital Invitational July 22-25. After that I go to the Porter Cup in New York July 28-31. I round off the summer with a U.S. Amateur qualifier and then hopefully the U.S. Amateur in Washington at the end of August.
Look into the glass ball and tell us where Jonathan Randolph will be in five years, 10 years?
The end goal is to get my PGA Tour card and make it out there on the tour. All I can say for sure is that I will have given it my absolute best and will accept the outcome no matter what it might be.
