Top of the OVC

Marshall County native
leads Racers through OVC


By Ann Beckett
Tribune-Courier Sports
sports@tribunecourier.com

MCCRACKEN COUNTY – Born Nicklaus Newcomb in December 1986, the same year Jack Nicklaus won the final major of his PGA career, golf might just be your destiny. Nick Newcomb is doing all he can to see that destiny fulfilled.

Newcomb, a 2005 Marshall County High School graduate, was a member of the golf and basketball teams while at MCHS. Recruited to play golf for the University of Louisville, Newcomb was redshirted his freshman year and played sparingly the next year.

The summer of 2007 was a pivotal point in his golf career. He was the champion of the Oaks Invitational, Kentucky Open Qualifier and West Kentucky Amateur tournaments. Newcomb made it to the playoff at a qualifier for the USGA Public Links Championship and finished second in the local Early Bird Tournament and Miller Memorial Invitational.

Probably the best decision Newcomb made that summer was to transfer to Murray State University to play golf for the Racers and head coach Eddie Hunt. In his first season as a Racer, Newcomb was named to the OVC Newcomer team, All OVC Team and OVC All-Tournament Team. His year culminated at the OVC Tournament where he won medalist honors shooting rounds of 75-71-70. He was also named to the OVC Commissioner’s Honor Roll for 2007-2008.

In his 2008-2009 season for the Racers, Newcomb tied with teammate Cameron Carrico for the lowest season average of 73.1.

Newcomb’s final season as a Murray State Racer couldn’t have played out any better. In October, after winning the MSU Invitational, he was named Pepsi Player of the Week and OVC Golfer of the Week. In February, the team kicked off their spring season playing a tournament at the world famous TPC at Sawgrass course in Ponte Vedre, Florida. He finished third at the FAU Spring Break Championship at Gleneagles Country Club in Delray Beach, Florida with rounds of 68-70.

Also in March, Newcomb and the Racer golf team took a share of 3rd place with the team from Kennesaw State at the Samford Invitational finishing just one shot behind Samford and Vanderbilt who tied for first.

The Racers successful spring brought wins at the UK Bluegrass Invitational with a one shot win over Auburn and Memphis and Tennessee State’s Big Blue Invitational beating John A. Logan by six strokes.

The term “going out on top” fittingly applies to Newcomb who finished his college career helping the MSU Racers win their first OVC Championship since 1991 and winning Medalist Honors for the second time in three years. Receiving Pepsi Player of the Week honors after the win, Newcomb was named OVC Tournament MVP and OVC Player of the Year. He was named to the All-OVC Golf Team along with brother Patrick, who also plays for the Racers.

Patrick, not to be outdone by older brother Nick, was named to the All-OVC Newcomer Team as well his first season as a Racer.

Newcomb and his Racer team headed to the Notre Dame Regional to play in the NCAA Men’s Golf Championship. The Racers play in the championship was not what they had hoped for and they were unable to secure a spot to advance to the NCAA Finals.

Fittingly, in what seemed to be a passing of the baton, Patrick Newcomb beat brother Nick by six strokes in the first round of the NCAA Championship.

Newcomb graduated in May from Murray State with a degree in Sports Management. His parents are Monty Newcomb and Melissa Newcomb of Marshall County.

He is spending his summer in Orlando, Fla., with the MSU Campus Outreach program where he will spend 10 weeks. “We are growing in our faith through rallies, seminars, studying the word and sharing our faith in the Orlando area,” said Newcomb.

As a golfer, Orlando is the perfect place to spend the summer. So along with the Campus Outreach program, Newcomb is playing in money tournaments as often as he can. His next goal is to go to the PGA Qualifying School in the fall.

“I’m trying to save enough money to do that,” said Newcomb. “If I don’t make it this fall I am definitely going next year.” Q-School runs from late August through December.

Newcomb plans to be back home in late July to play in the Irvin Cobb Championship tournament at the Paxton Park Golf Course in Paducah.