Murray State University Athletics
Photo by: Dave Winder-Murray State Athletics
Newcomb Boys Living The Golf Life
7/13/2016 8:22:00 AM | Men's Golf
Gallery
Nick and Patrick Newcomb haven't hit a shot for men's golf coach Eddie Hunt and the Murray State Racers in a long time. However, their standard of play is still being felt in the Racer program even though Nick finished in 2010 and younger brother Patrick in 2013.
"Nick and Patrick made the biggest impact on the program here at Murray State probably more than anyone, let alone brothers," said Hunt who is in his 15th season leading the MSU golf program. "But more than being great competitors, they are great people. Their level of skill and success is hard to match in the history of Racer Golf."
Nick arrived at Murray State in the fall of 2008 after a short run at the University of Louisville. Patrick was a freshman in the fall of 2009 and the Newcomb boys played together one season and helped the Racers to the Ohio Valley Conference title in the spring of 2010. It was MSU's first OVC title since 1991.
The Racer legends are now trying to carve out careers in the professional ranks.
After a recent round at Murray Country Club, Nick and Patrick talked about their history at Murray State, professional aspirations and relationship as brothers.
THE MURRAY STATE YEARS
After an outstanding prep career at Marshall County High School, the Newcomb brothers were part of a combined 19 team wins and 11 individual titles at Murray State (three by Nick and eight by Patrick). Nick won the OVC Tournament twice (2008 & 2010) and Patrick won it once in 2013 after being runner up in 2012. They produced three OVC Golfer of the Year awards, Nick in 2010 and Patrick twice in 2012 and 2013.
Both Newcomb brothers played in the USGA United States Amateur with Patrick advancing to the quarterfinals in 2012. Nick played in the event in 2006 and the USGA Pub Links Amateur.
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Patrick won a pair of Kentucky State Amateur titles in 2011 and 2012. He also played in one NCAA Regional after he won the OVC championship in 2013.
During our visit, the Newcomb brothers saw all of their accomplishments laid out on paper for the first time. It was quite a lot to soak in.
"Coach Hunt had put together a great team," Nick Newcomb said. "Before that first year, Eddie asked me what my goals were and I told him I wanted a team and individual OVC championship. The way Eddie runs his program, he doesn't cut corners in any area. He set us up for success. And another thing that made him a good coach is that he never tried to help you with something that wasn't his strength. We won a lot and looking back at it, it's crazy how good we did. It sure was fun."
How Nick and Patrick each arrived at the decision to play for Coach Hunt at Murray State has an interesting twist.
"Murray for me was a second chance," Nick said. "Eddie recruited me, but I decided to go to Louisville. But when things didn't work out for me, Coach Hunt welcomed me back and gave me the chance to be the player I thought I could be. I was able to help Eddie get an OVC title and I think that's what it's about, winning championships. Eddie put me in a spot where I could be successful and I'll always thank him for that.
"Nick's time at UL kind of opened my eyes," Patrick Newcomb said. "I learned going to the big school isn't always the best thing. Eddie had been recruiting me for a while, but it was Nick that really made me want to be a Racer and I'm so glad that I decided to play at Murray State. Nick and I were far enough apart that we never got to play together in high school and MSU gave us that opportunity. We shared an apartment and he helped me get a lot better as a player and grow as a person. I couldn't have asked for a better coach than Eddie Hunt."
THE SIBLING RIVALRY
Somebody had to be the little brother and that was Patrick, who is a little more than three years younger. Nick certainly set the bar high for Patrick.
"Nick gave me the drive to try and match what he did and maybe do better," Patrick said. "I tried to get more wins than he did (both Nick and Patrick laugh) and I wanted more OVC Player of the Year awards! But that was the rivalry we had and still have, but it's good for both of us. We are Monty Newcomb's sons and anybody that knows him knows our dad knows he's one of the greatest competitors ever! He gave that trait to us."
Nick countered, "I always tried to help him through my experiences. But golf is different than a lot of sports. Patrick had to figure out what made him tick and all golfers have to do that. Patrick did that and really became a great player. And if I helped him along by giving him something to shoot at, that's great. I'm always rooting for him and he roots for me."
The Newcomb's always make it competitive. Recently they played a five-round match at Murray Country Club and it went down to the wire. Nick was 39-under par and Patrick was 35-under.
THE PRO GRIND
The Newcomb's have a deep understanding of what they're trying to do is hard. Every year, there is a talented crop of aspiring pro players coming out of the college ranks to compete with, along with established pros.
"You have to have steady improvement as a pro because it gets harder and harder to stay out here," Patrick stated. "It's more mental than anything. I have the tools to play this game, but the mental grind is hard. The guys who make it master the mental part better than the other players."
Both Nick and Patrick have spent time on the Peach State Tour (Now called Hopkins Tour). In 2013 Nick finished in the top-10 of the money list and he has also played events on the Dakotas Tour. Patrick played in South Africa on the Sunshine Tour in 2015 and has played this season on the PGA Latinoamerica Tour.
In 2011, Nick played in a pair of Nationwide Tour events and Patrick played in one in 2012 and made it to the big time twice by qualifying for a pair of PGA Tour events, the McGladrey Classic and the Greenbrier Classic in 2014 and 2015.
Nick and Patrick are appreciative of the local financial help they've received. The local support is another reason why they feel so passionate about advancing their careers.
"I've had five wins in my five pro seasons and that's not bad, but I'm not on the PGA Tour yet," Nick said. "Winning on the mini tours doesn't go far toward the travel and the expense. You have to know that if you're going to do this, you have to fight with everything you have because it's a long process. I have to tune out the voices that say I can't do it."
Patrick Newcomb won his first pro event last July in Paducah, Kentucky. at the Irvin Cobb Championship. He and Nick are back at Paxton Park this weekend to give it a go in one of the region's top events.
"I won for the first time as a pro at the Cobb last year and that made all the work worth it," Patrick added. "Being in the hunt on Sunday and getting it done makes it all worth it."
Nick Newcomb is a friend of Patrick Sheehan who turned pro in 1992 and is still out there grinding away. Nick also referenced Kenny Perry, who played some of his best golf after he turned 40.
"Patrick Sheehan has helped me a lot," Nick said. "He said just think about this, golf is a game you can play well past 50. So if you work hard from the time you're 25 years old to 40, where will you be if you keep getting better? Some will say I should go do something else, but if you get to the top (PGA Tour) and stay there for 10 years, you're retiring at 50."Â
FAMILY MATTERS
Parents Monty and Melissa have been two constant supporters.
"They mean everything, My Pops drove us both all over the country since junior golf right up through college," Patrick said. "The two State Amateurs we won together were awesome. He read putts very well. He's like any parent, he worries about us way too much and for sure lives and dies on every shot we hit. Now mom is so much different than dad. She likes music, theatre and working in the garden. The difference between our parents is good though. Mom will always tell us it's going to be OK when we don't play so well and Dad goes 'what happened?' why did you play bad?"
"They've always been supportive and never squashed our dreams and they did everything they could to help us and probably wish they could do more," Nick said. "I'm so much like my dad and we butted heads at times. One thing dad did though was he never made us get a summer job. He told us if we tried as hard as we could in golf, he'd be fine with that. We were both able to get scholarships to Murray State, so it paid off."
Nick and his wife Hope are newlyweds, having married in late February 2016.
"We've been married four months and we're still kind of new at it," Nick said. "She's been super awesome about wanting me to play and I can't tell you how much that means to me. The best thing is when I get home from the course, she helps me leave the game there because I am one that will bring my work home with me. Being married to Hope has brought be perspective." Â
LIVING THE GOLF LIFE
For the Newcomb brothers, living the golf life is not as glamorous as it may seem.
These Benton, Kentucky. natives are as determined as they've have ever been to make it and make it big.
"For me, it's really not a golf life, it's just life," Patrick said. "Until you get to the point where the money is coming in, you can't do anything else. Someone asked if I'm dating. I tell them I'm married to those clubs in the bag! Some people go on spring break or on vacation, I go to golf tournaments. I can't hang it up now, what a waste that would be. It's hard work, but I love it."
"Sacrifices must be made to do this," Nick said. "There are things you wish you could be at, but you can't because that's my job and I've got to play. What is the golf life for me? I think it's the unknown of how good can I be. What's my ceiling?"
The Newcomb brothers have separate pursuits, yet they're bound at the same time. Surely their future successes will be many and enjoyed by both.
Â
Nick and Patrick Newcomb haven't hit a shot for men's golf coach Eddie Hunt and the Murray State Racers in a long time. However, their standard of play is still being felt in the Racer program even though Nick finished in 2010 and younger brother Patrick in 2013.
"Nick and Patrick made the biggest impact on the program here at Murray State probably more than anyone, let alone brothers," said Hunt who is in his 15th season leading the MSU golf program. "But more than being great competitors, they are great people. Their level of skill and success is hard to match in the history of Racer Golf."
Nick arrived at Murray State in the fall of 2008 after a short run at the University of Louisville. Patrick was a freshman in the fall of 2009 and the Newcomb boys played together one season and helped the Racers to the Ohio Valley Conference title in the spring of 2010. It was MSU's first OVC title since 1991.
The Racer legends are now trying to carve out careers in the professional ranks.
After a recent round at Murray Country Club, Nick and Patrick talked about their history at Murray State, professional aspirations and relationship as brothers.
THE MURRAY STATE YEARS
After an outstanding prep career at Marshall County High School, the Newcomb brothers were part of a combined 19 team wins and 11 individual titles at Murray State (three by Nick and eight by Patrick). Nick won the OVC Tournament twice (2008 & 2010) and Patrick won it once in 2013 after being runner up in 2012. They produced three OVC Golfer of the Year awards, Nick in 2010 and Patrick twice in 2012 and 2013.
Both Newcomb brothers played in the USGA United States Amateur with Patrick advancing to the quarterfinals in 2012. Nick played in the event in 2006 and the USGA Pub Links Amateur.
Â
Patrick won a pair of Kentucky State Amateur titles in 2011 and 2012. He also played in one NCAA Regional after he won the OVC championship in 2013.
During our visit, the Newcomb brothers saw all of their accomplishments laid out on paper for the first time. It was quite a lot to soak in.
"Coach Hunt had put together a great team," Nick Newcomb said. "Before that first year, Eddie asked me what my goals were and I told him I wanted a team and individual OVC championship. The way Eddie runs his program, he doesn't cut corners in any area. He set us up for success. And another thing that made him a good coach is that he never tried to help you with something that wasn't his strength. We won a lot and looking back at it, it's crazy how good we did. It sure was fun."
How Nick and Patrick each arrived at the decision to play for Coach Hunt at Murray State has an interesting twist.
"Murray for me was a second chance," Nick said. "Eddie recruited me, but I decided to go to Louisville. But when things didn't work out for me, Coach Hunt welcomed me back and gave me the chance to be the player I thought I could be. I was able to help Eddie get an OVC title and I think that's what it's about, winning championships. Eddie put me in a spot where I could be successful and I'll always thank him for that.
"Nick's time at UL kind of opened my eyes," Patrick Newcomb said. "I learned going to the big school isn't always the best thing. Eddie had been recruiting me for a while, but it was Nick that really made me want to be a Racer and I'm so glad that I decided to play at Murray State. Nick and I were far enough apart that we never got to play together in high school and MSU gave us that opportunity. We shared an apartment and he helped me get a lot better as a player and grow as a person. I couldn't have asked for a better coach than Eddie Hunt."
THE SIBLING RIVALRY Somebody had to be the little brother and that was Patrick, who is a little more than three years younger. Nick certainly set the bar high for Patrick.
"Nick gave me the drive to try and match what he did and maybe do better," Patrick said. "I tried to get more wins than he did (both Nick and Patrick laugh) and I wanted more OVC Player of the Year awards! But that was the rivalry we had and still have, but it's good for both of us. We are Monty Newcomb's sons and anybody that knows him knows our dad knows he's one of the greatest competitors ever! He gave that trait to us."
Nick countered, "I always tried to help him through my experiences. But golf is different than a lot of sports. Patrick had to figure out what made him tick and all golfers have to do that. Patrick did that and really became a great player. And if I helped him along by giving him something to shoot at, that's great. I'm always rooting for him and he roots for me."
The Newcomb's always make it competitive. Recently they played a five-round match at Murray Country Club and it went down to the wire. Nick was 39-under par and Patrick was 35-under.
THE PRO GRIND
The Newcomb's have a deep understanding of what they're trying to do is hard. Every year, there is a talented crop of aspiring pro players coming out of the college ranks to compete with, along with established pros.
"You have to have steady improvement as a pro because it gets harder and harder to stay out here," Patrick stated. "It's more mental than anything. I have the tools to play this game, but the mental grind is hard. The guys who make it master the mental part better than the other players."
Both Nick and Patrick have spent time on the Peach State Tour (Now called Hopkins Tour). In 2013 Nick finished in the top-10 of the money list and he has also played events on the Dakotas Tour. Patrick played in South Africa on the Sunshine Tour in 2015 and has played this season on the PGA Latinoamerica Tour.
In 2011, Nick played in a pair of Nationwide Tour events and Patrick played in one in 2012 and made it to the big time twice by qualifying for a pair of PGA Tour events, the McGladrey Classic and the Greenbrier Classic in 2014 and 2015.
Nick and Patrick are appreciative of the local financial help they've received. The local support is another reason why they feel so passionate about advancing their careers.
"I've had five wins in my five pro seasons and that's not bad, but I'm not on the PGA Tour yet," Nick said. "Winning on the mini tours doesn't go far toward the travel and the expense. You have to know that if you're going to do this, you have to fight with everything you have because it's a long process. I have to tune out the voices that say I can't do it."
Patrick Newcomb won his first pro event last July in Paducah, Kentucky. at the Irvin Cobb Championship. He and Nick are back at Paxton Park this weekend to give it a go in one of the region's top events.
"I won for the first time as a pro at the Cobb last year and that made all the work worth it," Patrick added. "Being in the hunt on Sunday and getting it done makes it all worth it."
Nick Newcomb is a friend of Patrick Sheehan who turned pro in 1992 and is still out there grinding away. Nick also referenced Kenny Perry, who played some of his best golf after he turned 40.
"Patrick Sheehan has helped me a lot," Nick said. "He said just think about this, golf is a game you can play well past 50. So if you work hard from the time you're 25 years old to 40, where will you be if you keep getting better? Some will say I should go do something else, but if you get to the top (PGA Tour) and stay there for 10 years, you're retiring at 50."Â
FAMILY MATTERS Parents Monty and Melissa have been two constant supporters.
"They mean everything, My Pops drove us both all over the country since junior golf right up through college," Patrick said. "The two State Amateurs we won together were awesome. He read putts very well. He's like any parent, he worries about us way too much and for sure lives and dies on every shot we hit. Now mom is so much different than dad. She likes music, theatre and working in the garden. The difference between our parents is good though. Mom will always tell us it's going to be OK when we don't play so well and Dad goes 'what happened?' why did you play bad?"
"They've always been supportive and never squashed our dreams and they did everything they could to help us and probably wish they could do more," Nick said. "I'm so much like my dad and we butted heads at times. One thing dad did though was he never made us get a summer job. He told us if we tried as hard as we could in golf, he'd be fine with that. We were both able to get scholarships to Murray State, so it paid off."
Nick and his wife Hope are newlyweds, having married in late February 2016.
"We've been married four months and we're still kind of new at it," Nick said. "She's been super awesome about wanting me to play and I can't tell you how much that means to me. The best thing is when I get home from the course, she helps me leave the game there because I am one that will bring my work home with me. Being married to Hope has brought be perspective." Â
LIVING THE GOLF LIFE
For the Newcomb brothers, living the golf life is not as glamorous as it may seem.
These Benton, Kentucky. natives are as determined as they've have ever been to make it and make it big.
"For me, it's really not a golf life, it's just life," Patrick said. "Until you get to the point where the money is coming in, you can't do anything else. Someone asked if I'm dating. I tell them I'm married to those clubs in the bag! Some people go on spring break or on vacation, I go to golf tournaments. I can't hang it up now, what a waste that would be. It's hard work, but I love it."
"Sacrifices must be made to do this," Nick said. "There are things you wish you could be at, but you can't because that's my job and I've got to play. What is the golf life for me? I think it's the unknown of how good can I be. What's my ceiling?"
The Newcomb brothers have separate pursuits, yet they're bound at the same time. Surely their future successes will be many and enjoyed by both.
Â
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