Most recently, the sophomores followed each other on consecutive days with 65s at the regional tournament -- the low round of the season for both.

By JOE BUIE
Staff Writer
Tyler Morning Telegraph

 

But each of their journeys to TJC to play golf goes back to their experiences living in England.

Small world, huh?

Glenn was actually born in Tyler before moving to England with his family at age 5.

Labuschagne grew up in Pretoria, South Africa, but he lived in England for six years.

That is where they both were introduced to golf.

"In England they try and promote junior golfers to play ... you could become a member at any course for free, or for like 10 pounds. It's cheap," said Labuschagne, who picked up the game at age 14. "You can play as much as you want, any day you want, for free. That's how I started.

"I used to caddy for my dad a couple of times and never played. Then some of my friends started playing and I caddied for them."

Labuschagne played other sports until taking up the game seriously at 16 and moving back to South Africa for his last two years of high school.

Glenn was first exposed to golf at age 8 or 9 when he started taking lessons in England. He, too, recalled the huge junior leagues at all the clubs.

Glenn would play a round with his dad once or twice a month, but in England the public schools don't have golf teams. Instead, Glenn said your main choices are soccer, rugby and cricket.

Glenn said he didn't get serious about golf until moving back to America. Living in South Carolina, Glenn played soccer his freshman year of high school before choosing golf full-time the next year.

Both players realize how far they have come -- in a short time -- to become two of the top players in NJCAA Division II golf.

"We were so far behind the power curve because all these kids that are trying to get college scholarships started playing tournaments when they were 9 or 10, and they've been on the grinder since they were 11 or 12," Glenn said.

Glenn and Labuschagne both competed at the national tournament last year in Scottsboro, Ala. The Apaches finished fifth as a team after winning the national title in 2008. Glenn was 19th individually, Labuschagne 22nd.

They are currently ranked 1-2 in Division II, and TJC is No. 1 as a team.

Both players aspire to one day play golf for a living. They came to TJC for scholarships and the opportunity to transfer to an NCAA Division I university. Glenn has signed with Sam Houston State, while Labuschagne has committed to play at Mercer in Georgia.

SMOKE SIGNALS

: For Glenn, who is long off the tee, no statistic is more overrated than fairways hit. He qualified for the Texas State Amateur recently by shooting a 68 at Willow Brook Country Club. Glenn found three fairways and tied for medalist honors. … Rounding out the TJC lineup are freshmen Nate Anderson (Duluth, Minn.), Chris George (Australia) and Sebastian Starud (Sweden). … Playing for the Apache Ladies are freshman Adela Elizondo (Harlingen), sophomore Alexis Byerly (Seabrook), sophomore Whitney Flewellen (Huffman), sophomore Courtney Hodgkins (Kilgore) and freshman Jacki Marshall (Australia). Marshall is ranked third in the nation in scoring average.