National Champion now a Saluki

Roger Welch is a sophomore on the SIU golf team. He transferred from the College of Southern Maryland, where he was the NJCAA national champion in 2002. He recently took time to talk with Christopher Morrical of the Daily Egyptian.

Daily Egyptian: How would you describe your personality on the course?

Roger Welch: Calm. Whether good or bad, you can't really tell the difference when I'm playing and when I'm not. I don't get really frustrated when I'm playing.

DE: How about away from the course?

RW: Laid back. The same way. I don't let things bother me.

DE: What got you started playing golf?

RW: When I was eight, my dad got a job at a golf course. I would help him out, then go out and play afterwards.

DE: Do you enjoy a part of golf more than any others?

RW: Not really. I work on every aspect. To be good, you have to work on it all. All are equally satisfying. A good drive, a good putt; it all feels good, so I go for all of it at the same time.

DE: What are you expecting of yourself this year?

RW: I expect to play well. If I don't, I'm disappointed. Everybody has good and bad days. I don't let one bad tournament bring me down. I try to go back and do better next time.

DE: How about the team?

RW: I really feel the team will be successful by the end of the year. When we get to the MVC, that's everyone's main goal on the team. We go into every tournament with the same goal in mind. You can't treat any tournament different. We have to treat all 12 of them the same. We want to win every time we step on the course.

DE: What do you think about not having a home tournament?

RW: It doesn't really matter. If we do, we do, but if we don't, we don't. I think Coach is trying to work something out. There's not really an advantage or disadvantage to having a home course. It would be good, but in the long run, it will pay off for us. When courses are foreign it's better for us.

DE: How do you prepare for a tournament?

RW: A week before, we run through everything. We go through the key points: stroke, swing. The tournament dictates what you need to work on because of pressure situations.

DE: How does Carbondale compare to Benedict, Maryland?

RW: Benedict is really just my mailing address. My parents grew up there. I kind of like this area. In Benedict, they have cities all around. Carbondale doesn't. We have more people.

DE: How about Illinois and Maryland?

RW: I talk different. The weather is the same, but it's not as cold. I haven't been through a winter here, but I hear it gets cold. The only time it's cold in Maryland is when the wind blows.

DE: Do you have a favorite place to go and hang out in Carbondale?

RW: I'm not really familiar with the area yet. I'm just concentrating on my schoolwork and on golf.

DE: What was it like leading your high school team to 64 consecutive match wins?

RW: I look at it as I wasn't the only one leading. Everyone on the team was good. It was fun while it lasted.

DE: Growing up, did you have a sports idol?

RW: My dad. He was the one who motivated me. He was the one I looked up to. He's the one who got me started in golf and in baseball. I looked up to him as my role model. His advice is better than anyone else's. I will always look at it that way.

DE: Do you have a favorite moment from a tournament?

RW: The first shot of the day and the last shot of the day. Winning.

DE: You were still back home last Sept. 11. What was it like when it happened so close to you?

RW: Well, it happened in my home state. Shocking. I couldn't believe it was happening. Things happen for a reason, but why did this have to happen to us? It was a scary moment.

DE: Now for some easier questions. What is your favorite television show?

RW: "Everybody Loves Raymond." That's the funniest show.

DE: What was the last CD you bought?

RW: Puddle of Mudd. "Come Clean."

DE: What was the last DVD you bought?

RW: "Training Day."

DE: Favorite movie?

RW: "Tin Cup."

DE: Greatest band ever?

RW: Sublime.

DE: Favorite book?

RW: "Golf Digest."

Reporter Christopher Morrical can be reached at cmorrical@dailyegyptian.com