Wake Forest Athletics
Zalatoris Shares Tour Life with Deacons
10/22/2019 9:26:00 AM | Men's Golf, Les Johns
By Les Johns
Just two short years ago, Will Zalatoris attended the Wake Forest Gold Pro-Am reception, but NCAA rules forbade his participation in the biennial scramble the following day.
Now that he's started his professional career, Zalatoris returned to Old Town Club recently to join more than a dozen other former Demon Deacon golf alumni in an event to raise funds for the Wake Forest men's and women's golf programs.
"It's almost like a homecoming for the golf teams," Zalatoris said. "It's a fraternity, if you will. We have Major champions who are hanging out, and guys who are on every level. It's a really cool deal.
"The genesis of this whole deal is Arnold Palmer. We're all following in his footsteps, decade by decade."
Though Zalatoris now is allowed to play in the scramble, he still was around the night before for the banquet.
"I mentioned something last night to Curtis (Strange) about my game, and he was talking about watching me hit a couple today," he said. "That's what is so cool about all this. It's just one big family."
Zalatoris turned pro in December of 2017 after earning ACC Player of the Year and first team All-American honors earlier that year. His Wake Forest career was storied, as he grabbed four victories and 15 top-five finishes in 40 events played. He set a Wake Forest program record with a 70.44 career stroke average, surpassing Bill Haas' mark of 70.87 from 2001-04.
"Do the little things," Wake Forest men's golf coach Jerry Haas consistently told Zalatoris.
"That's something I've carried over to my professional career," he said.
Aside from becoming better on the course, Zalatoris said the lessons he learned about life while at Wake Forest have turned out to be the most beneficial.
"Maturity," he answered when asked about the most important skill he developed. "But it's knowing how to act both on and off the golf course as a professional."
Zalatoris is competing now on the Korn Ferry Tour, where he's posted three top-10 finishes this year. In July, he finished tied for third in the LECOM Health Challenge in Findley Lake, NY, shooting 19-under par, just one stroke behind the winner.
He was looking forward to spending some time with the current Wake Forest men's golf team while in town for the Pro-Am, and he often shares his experiences as a professional with those rising through the collegiate ranks.
"Moreso the juniors and seniors — the ones I played with," he said. "I get to share my experiences and tell them what I've learned and tell them about the mistakes I've made. Hopefully it will shorten their learning curve. I'll head over to the facility and see some more of the guys and share what this place means to me. We all think it, but it's another thing to get to say it."
Of course, just behind the Arnold Palmer Golf Complex is a trio of new additions to Wake Forest Athletics — McCreary Football Field House, the Sutton Sports Performance Center and the Shah Basketball Complex.
"From the day I walked on campus my freshman year until now, you could say it's changed from a small town to a massive city," Zalatoris said. "It's amazing what the Wake Will Lead campaign has done. I'm looking forward to seeing the McCreary Refueling Zone and the Shah Basketball Complex. It's fantastic for our athletic program."
Zalatoris sees Wake as being a destination for elite-level student-athletes across all programs moving forward.
"We're a well-rounded university," he said. "We're one of the top-30 academic programs and one of the best football, basketball and golf programs in the country. What more could you ask for?"
Just two short years ago, Will Zalatoris attended the Wake Forest Gold Pro-Am reception, but NCAA rules forbade his participation in the biennial scramble the following day.
Now that he's started his professional career, Zalatoris returned to Old Town Club recently to join more than a dozen other former Demon Deacon golf alumni in an event to raise funds for the Wake Forest men's and women's golf programs.
"It's almost like a homecoming for the golf teams," Zalatoris said. "It's a fraternity, if you will. We have Major champions who are hanging out, and guys who are on every level. It's a really cool deal.
"The genesis of this whole deal is Arnold Palmer. We're all following in his footsteps, decade by decade."
Though Zalatoris now is allowed to play in the scramble, he still was around the night before for the banquet.
"I mentioned something last night to Curtis (Strange) about my game, and he was talking about watching me hit a couple today," he said. "That's what is so cool about all this. It's just one big family."
Zalatoris turned pro in December of 2017 after earning ACC Player of the Year and first team All-American honors earlier that year. His Wake Forest career was storied, as he grabbed four victories and 15 top-five finishes in 40 events played. He set a Wake Forest program record with a 70.44 career stroke average, surpassing Bill Haas' mark of 70.87 from 2001-04.
"Do the little things," Wake Forest men's golf coach Jerry Haas consistently told Zalatoris.
"That's something I've carried over to my professional career," he said.
Aside from becoming better on the course, Zalatoris said the lessons he learned about life while at Wake Forest have turned out to be the most beneficial.
"Maturity," he answered when asked about the most important skill he developed. "But it's knowing how to act both on and off the golf course as a professional."
Zalatoris is competing now on the Korn Ferry Tour, where he's posted three top-10 finishes this year. In July, he finished tied for third in the LECOM Health Challenge in Findley Lake, NY, shooting 19-under par, just one stroke behind the winner.
He was looking forward to spending some time with the current Wake Forest men's golf team while in town for the Pro-Am, and he often shares his experiences as a professional with those rising through the collegiate ranks.
"Moreso the juniors and seniors — the ones I played with," he said. "I get to share my experiences and tell them what I've learned and tell them about the mistakes I've made. Hopefully it will shorten their learning curve. I'll head over to the facility and see some more of the guys and share what this place means to me. We all think it, but it's another thing to get to say it."
Of course, just behind the Arnold Palmer Golf Complex is a trio of new additions to Wake Forest Athletics — McCreary Football Field House, the Sutton Sports Performance Center and the Shah Basketball Complex.
"From the day I walked on campus my freshman year until now, you could say it's changed from a small town to a massive city," Zalatoris said. "It's amazing what the Wake Will Lead campaign has done. I'm looking forward to seeing the McCreary Refueling Zone and the Shah Basketball Complex. It's fantastic for our athletic program."
Zalatoris sees Wake as being a destination for elite-level student-athletes across all programs moving forward.
"We're a well-rounded university," he said. "We're one of the top-30 academic programs and one of the best football, basketball and golf programs in the country. What more could you ask for?"
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