FULTON, Mo. - One of the mainstays of the course for the William Woods men's golf team has been carding multiple rounds under par in all of his years in Fulton, Missouri. Spencer Worley is heading into the final year of his collegiate career, where he reflects on the great connections he has gained and where the road will take him for his future.
For Spencer, choosing Woods was more than just choosing a college; it was about finding a place that felt like home and treated you as family. Woods' former coach, Barry Doty, made the difference in Spencer's decision-making process.
"I talked to Coach Doty on the phone, and he explained this place perfectly," Spencer remembers. "He said he had no kids, but this program was like his child, as he explained to me on the phone. He really sold me on the woods when he said that the people are what make this place feel like home. All the connections that are created here are why the Woods is the place to be."
When Spencer heard about the impact and the connections that are created once you become a part of the Woods family, he couldn't resist. The moment he stepped on campus during his freshman year, his motivation to become the best came from his pure pride in his craft and his family back home.
"My family has always played golf, like my father and my older brother have always played golf, so growing up, I was always around it. I have also put so much effort into my game that I reap the rewards of that hard work. If I work hard, that progress will show when I get out on the course for our tournaments," said Worley.
Like many of our international student-athletes, Spencer faced some challenges when he first arrived in the states and on the campus of William Woods. One of the main challenges for Spencer is being so far from home due to how close he is with his family.
"I found it quite difficult at first, but FaceTime has been a massive help for me. I call my parents every day, as well as my brother, whom I talk to all the time," Spencer noted. "The time difference makes it difficult at times, especially when the struggles of my sport and them not being there. You just kind of feel on your own at times, but the people I surrounded myself with, like the upperclassmen, and they just brought me in like I was family, and that really helped me a lot."
William Woods has always excelled at making international students feel at home once they step on campus for the first time, but what really stood out to Spencer in his two years at Woods was the small campus and the volume of international students.
"I think one of the biggest factors is it being such a small campus and that allows for you to create connections to a bunch of different people," stated Worley. "As you walk around, every two people that you see, you probably know one of them. The other factor that I'd say is that there are a lot of international students, so you're all in the same boat. You're all understanding of what each other's going through, and that really helps, because it helps that I can talk to someone and they can understand and know my feelings in something that I am going through."
Spencer finds true value in the Woods with the people who are here. Spending every bit of his spare time with his friends, whether it's eating in Tucker, or just hanging and finding something to do around campus with all the available activities.
"It's awesome, I love it here," Spencer exclaimed. "You've got so many connections, and the people that you see all the time and spend all your spare time with make this place great. You know you have a good team here, but even better friends."
With everything outside of golf helping him with his focus and free time, it allows him to excel on the course, and with that, experience competition at the national level.
"Nationals were awesome, being able to see all of our hard work over the semester be rewarded for me and the guys were nice," Spencer added. "The course was amazing, as well as the setup, and it kind of reminded me of home when I would compete in these large competitions. We had a fun time, but it was a struggle at times. We know that you have to struggle to get better, but we were grateful to experience that at such a high level."
Being a part of a historically successful golf program has also played a role in his development. The expectations and standards set by previous players have given him something to strive toward
"I mean, it is awesome to come to a program that has such high expectations for the year. It helps push us to achieve what others have achieved in the same program you are in. I try to do the best anywhere I go, so looking up to these guys made it nice to create a target for me to reach every year," Spencer said.
Spencer is also a leader for the team, which means so much to him to represent such a great group of golfers. Spencer has high aspirations for the team but believes that they deserve to be there.
"We've worked hard and have gotten the opportunity to receive votes in the national rankings for NAIA golf," stated Worley. "I think we are definitely a team that's capable of being ranked quite high. I know this year we are in a tougher conference, but I feel that with our hard work, the guys have been putting in and the talent we have right now, there is no reason we can't make a run at a conference title."
Spencer takes a different approach from the normal athlete when it comes to his preparation for these tournaments and invitationals. He is relaxed and trusts his work throughout the week when he steps up to the tee.
"I take quite a relaxed approach with my practice," Spencer mentioned. "I am not very technical in my approach, as I just go with the flow. I know throughout the week what I need to work on when I go play or need to go to the range. I just make sure to keep my short game sharp, and I can feel good going into the tournament."
"I've adopted this mindset over the last couple of years, with if it's meant to be, it's meant to be," continued Worley. "I put in the work, and whatever happens after that, happens. There are more things to life than golf; at the end of the day, if I play well, then I was meant to play well. I trust my work and whatever happens on the day is meant to happen."
The Owls' season is in full swing to start the spring, and they are getting prepared for their home invitational. The goals for the team are high, but Spencer has high hopes that the team can come through with these goals.
"You know, the team goal is to make nationals and win. I have full faith that all the lads have been putting in the work to get to that point," Spencer said. "For me, I wanted to start this season well, which I fortunately have done and have gotten me to 10 wins, which was another goal of mine. I've achieved double-digit wins and a win every semester and push for a conference title with the team."
William Woods moves into their first year of Heart conference golf, and the competition has already proven to be more challenging than in past years for Spencer.
"Heart is a great conference with tons of quality teams, which I think is really good," claimed Worley. "If you want to improve, you have to surround yourself with better teams. We've definitely got the talent to compete at the top, and if we put in the preparation and have the right mindset, there is no reason we can't win."
Spencer plans to return to England and start his journey to become a professional golfer by joining the Clutch Pro tour. He intends to give this a ride for two or three years and hopes to improve and make jumps in the professional scene. If the professional doesn't go in favor of Spencer, he does have a plan B.
"My girlfriend, Zara, plays tennis here, and if my plan doesn't go as planned, I'll probably go to Australia, where she is from. There are definitely worse plan b's than going to Australia and starting either in teaching or something involved in the sports world," Spencer said.
Spencer and the William Woods men's golf team will continue their season this week as they host the WWU invitational at Tanglewood Golf Course, coming off the previous victory.
