Relatively
new golfer Wood looking to be Cal State
Long Beach team leader
By
Patrick Creaven
Summer Forty-Niner
Sports Editor
Usually, collegiate athletes have been playing their respective sports since
they were in kindergarten. For Ryan Wood, it was not until middle school that
he discovered the sport he would later learn to love.
At 13, Wood went out to play golf with his baseball buddies. About a year later,
he won his first golf tournament. At 18, he received a Division I golf scholarship
to Long Beach State. At 21, just three weeks ago, he competed in the NCAA West
Regionals, finishing in the top 100.
At this pace, the question is: What will Wood do at 25?
“My goal is to be on the PGA tour,” Wood said. “I still have
a long way to go. I still even have a difficult time consistently shooting par,
but if I put in the effort and become more mentally strong, I think I can do
it.”
Growing up, Wood always liked to play sports. It came easy to him, and his
best sport was baseball. His dad, Fred Wood, who is a golf pro in Oceanside,
tried to get his son interested in golf, but Wood showed little interest.
One day, some friends on Wood’s baseball team invited him to play a round
of golf. Wood went, and eight years later, he still hasn’t come back.
“It was something different and I got hooked,” Wood said.
All of a sudden, the advantages of having a dad as a golf pro presented themselves.
Wood was able to go hit balls and play a round of golf whenever he wanted to.
Eventually, there was no more baseball. It was golf all the time.
Wood played four years of varsity golf, and was twice named first team all-league.
Even with his accomplishments and golf background, no schools were knocking
on Wood’s door to play collegiate golf—except for LBSU.
Bob Livingston, LBSU head golf coach, had known the eldest Wood for years.
He knew Wood had golf in his blood. Wood accepted the scholarship and right
away played an important role on the golf team, finishing 32nd in the Big West
Championship his freshman year.
Wood has showed continued improvement at LBSU. He finished 20th in the Big
West Championship his sophomore year and 18th last season. With his consistent
success on the golf course this year, Wood was invited to be the lone representative
for the 49ers at the NCAA West Regionals last month in Tuscon, Ariz.
After a poor first day, 79, Wood recovered the final two days, shooting a 74
and then a two-under par 70. Wood finished the tournament tied in 99th place.
“[Wood] has gotten better in almost all aspects of his game since he has
came to Long Beach,” Livingston said. “He hits the ball longer, and
he’s a better putter.”
Ryan Panichpakdee, who was Wood’s golf roommate on the road, said Wood
was one of his favorite players on the team this past season.
“[Wood] is a quiet guy,” Panichpakdee said. “He doesn’t
go out much, but he’s a good guy to be around. We call him the ‘quiet
assassin.’”
Wood, along with fellow seniors Brett Lederer and Jeremy Keller, is expected
to lead the 49ers next season. Even though Wood had some personal success this
season, he is more concerned about the team next season.
“This season was a little disappointing,” Wood said. “We’re
bringing some players back next year, and if we play to our abilities and play
like we belong to be there, we should have a good season.”
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