Andrew Putnam is not the picture of an average golfer. He does not have a practicing law or doctor’s office no tartan shorts or newsboy cap. Pepperdine senior Putnam is everything but the golf stereotype.
With three top 10 finishes in the five tournaments so far this year Putnam was sure to put himself on the national radar currently ranked No. 9 by Golfstat and No. 15 by Golfweek/Sagarin.
As a collegiate golfer looking to go pro Putnam’s recent nomination to the Hogan Award watch list is helping him on his way.
“If I won it would definitely be my top goal he said. It’s like the golfer of the year award for college. I’ve played well so far and if I play well this spring I could have a good chance. It’s every golfer’s dream.”
The Hogan Award watch list identifies the collegiate golfers on their way to being named the award recipient. The finalist is recognized as the top amateur men’s golfer at the college level.
One of 26 players on the list Putnam and the others’ performance in both collegiate and amateur competitions over a 12-month span will be evaluated. The semi-finalists will be announced April 14. From there three finalists will be chosen to go to the Hogan Award presentation on May 16 at the Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth Texas.
The receipt of this award would be the crowning touch on Putnam’s collegiate golfing career. With 33 top-20 finishes and 19 returns in the top 10 Putnam has led the Waves with a career average of 72.53 which puts him at No. 2 in Pepperdine history.
He credits his brother as his inspiration for his success and his drive to continue in the sport.
“My brother [Michael Putnam] is in the PGA tour he said. I’m close with him. I can see exactly what he’s going through. I know other players on tour but he’s my brother.”
A tough season in the beginning of his junior year gave Putnam the opportunity to grow in the sport.
“I think I’ve had more of defining low points than high points if that makes sense Putnam explained. About a year and a half ago I had a bad streak where I just wasn’t playing well at all. I got perspective that golf wasn’t everything. It made me a better golfer.”
As a collegiate athlete and a business major at a tier-one academic university he quickly found his way own to succeed.
“It was challenging my first semester balancing classes friends and golf but I’ve gotten used to it and it’s been easier to deal with. Teachers are pretty understanding and willing to work with me when I’m gone.”
From a young age Putnam knew he wanted to golf. When his older brother Michael was awarded a golf scholarship to Pepperdine Andrew decided to follow suit.
“My brothers and dad played [when I was] growing up and I followed in their footsteps playing for fun. I got more serious from there. When I was about 13 or 14 years old I committed myself to trying to get a scholarship as well.”
Golf has its challenges but for Putnam it is these challenges that draw him to the game.
“You can never perfect golf Putnam said.
Putnam continued by saying, I am constantly improving and it drives me to work on my game all the time. It can get frustrating when I am not playing well. But then your results pay off. It’s rewarding.”
He challenges naysayers of the game asserting that playing at a collegiate level brings the game up to a whole new playing field.
“People say that golf is not a sport it’s not athletic he mentioned regrettably, and for the average recreational golfer it isn’t. But for collegiate players and players at this level it’s completely different. We play 36 holes a day. That’s sunrise to sunset. It’s physically more challenging than you’d think but mentally that’s where it’s the hardest.”
The three-time All-WCC first teamer qualified to play in the U.S. Open this past summer which Putnam considers one of his greatest experiences.
“It was amazing Putnam said. I had never played in a tournament with thousands of people watching. It was exactly what I had been dreaming of since I was a kid. I had stretches where I played well but overall not my best performance. It was definitely something new to get used to having lots of people watch you the nerves.”
This past summer gave Putnam a win in the Pacific Coast Amateur tournament and he placed second at the Sahalee Players Championship. In addition to the U.S. Open he contended in the U.S. Amateur Championship.
In his career at Pepperdine both his freshman and sophomore years awarded Putnam All-American honors and he was the 2009 West Coast Conference Player of the Year. He’s played in 41 tournaments over the past four years with eight more to be played this spring. And after that?
“I’m trying to qualify for the Walker Cup Putnam said. After this summer I will turn professional. But it’s hard. Golf is different than basketball or football. There’s no guaranteed future; you have to earn your way every time.”
Putnam will play next in the USC Intercollegiate Tournament on Feb. 28 and March 1.