Photo by: Henoc Kivuye
Alasdair Dalgliesh, more affectionately known as Ali around campus, has one goal in mind – professional golf. For the senior from Haywards Heath in Sussex, England, Oklahoma Christian University was the avenue to make that goal a reality.
Dalgliesh began his career at Oklahoma Christian in the 2010-2011 season, where he sparked interest straightaway with a 45th-place finish in the U.C. Ferguson Classic at Lincoln Park Golf Course in Oklahoma City.
Dalgliesh explained how Oklahoma Christian found its way onto the young golfer’s radar, and why he made it his temporary home.
“I was not eligible for the NCAA, and I decided to attend OC because I was told that the golf program was very good and I could not turn it down,” Dalgliesh said. “I had a few offers and OC had the most competitive golf team; competition is very good here. I get to play tournaments almost every week, which is not possible at home if you attend a university.”
In his sophomore season, however, Dalgliesh exploded onto the scene with one of the best fall seasons in the entire nation. He collected his first collegiate win in only his fourth tournament, claiming the top spot in Oklahoma Christian’s own River Oaks Intercollegiate.
His 71-stroke average earned Dalgliesh the No. 1 ranking by Golfstat.com among Oklahoma golfers at any level.
In hindsight, Dalgliesh credits his sophomore fall season as possibly the greatest achievement to date in his college career.
“I think my greatest golf moment was my first semester in sophomore year where my scoring average was about 20th across all of America, and I was ranked the best golfer in Oklahoma for that semester,” Dalgliesh said. “This was huge for my confidence, and I went on to get my second collegiate win that next semester.”
That second win came in the Battle at Primm, at Primm Valley Golf Club in Nevada where Dalgliesh posted an eight-under score to take the crown.
His effort at the Battle of Primm also earned him NAIA and Sooner Athletic Conference men’s golfer of the week honors.
To put the finishing touches on his sophomore season, Dalgliesh grabbed the runner-up spot in the SAC Conference Championship and tied for 23rd at the NAIA Championship.
Dalgliesh’s 72.26-stroke average for the year was the third best in the NAIA, earning him NAIA and PING All-American honors.
Last year in his junior season, Dalgliesh maintained a 74.48-stroke average, ninth best in the Heartland Conference, and tied for the individual runner-up at the NCCAA Championship in Panama City Beach, Fla.
Dalgliesh also added a Heartland Conference Player of the Week award and an NCCAA All-American honor to his already extensive list of career accolades.
Dalgliesh recently ended his senior fall season with a bang, claiming the individual title at the Bill Ross Intercollegiate in Kansas last week.
On Tuesday, Dalgliesh was named the NCCAA men’s golf student-athlete of the week. Wednesday he added the Heartland Conference Player of the Week Award.
Also on Wednesday, Dalgliesh contributed a finishing round score of 77 to assist the Eagles on their way to a fourth-place finish in the NCCAA Championship in Florida.
The senior could not speak highly enough of his teammates, whose talents leave them unsatisfied with a fourth-place finish.
“The team has always been a great standard, and it is never easy to make the top five,” Dalgliesh said. “This is why it has improved my game, as you’re always fighting to try and improve and to make that team. My teammates are brilliant and we all get along very well.”
With the end of his senior year looming, however, Dalgliesh alluded to his post-graduation plans.
“My plans after graduating are to go back home to England and to turn professional,” Dalgliesh said. “I will try to play on some mini-tours to begin with and see where I can get myself. I look forward to this to see where my game compares to the professionals.”
As his time as an Eagle gradually comes to a close, Dalgliesh seeks to put the final touches on a career that has cemented him as one of the most elite players to compete in this premiere golf program.
Once a student at the Sussex College of Golf in Lindfield, England, after four years Dalgliesh will return – this time as an Eagle.
0
0
Be First to Comment