KENNESAW, Ga. - The spring season ended and Kennesaw State Director of Golf Operations Dennis Stubblefield walked over to Matt Nagy, stared for a bit at the athletic sophomore and gave him a simple piece of advice - give Daryll Speegle a call.
Speegle, the Director of Golf at the Pinetree Country Club who has worked with Senior PGA tour player Gibby Gilbert and 2008 GSGA Player of the Year Mark Strickland among other notable golfers, welcomed the meeting with Matt and in less than a year the relationships between the seasoned club pro and the rising young star paid dividends that will begin paying off this week on Long Island.
"Matt was a good player even before he came to me," said Speegle from his office at Pinetree. "He has an excellent short game, but there was some things in his swing that needed adjusting. I just showed him videos of him; other pros and I let him draw the conclusions. He told me what he wanted and I give him the step-by-step process."
That process propelled Nagy to a course record 9-under par 63 in the final round of the qualifier at the difficult Hawks Ridge course and a trip to the Big Apple and the U.S. Open. And this time -- a call from Speegle.
"I think I woke Matt up when I called him on Tuesday," smiled Speegle. "I never quite realize how early it is when I get to the course."
While the instructor's call woke Nagy from a well-deserved slumber a day after Nagy qualified, it was welcomed. While Speegle was at some level surprised and happy for his golfer, he wasn't really shocked at Nagy's success.
"I told Matt that when he qualified and shot the 63 at Hawks Ridge that he had it not only physically, but mentally as well," boasted the golf veteran who has been around the game for 47 years. "It showed that he has it in him to play at that level, it just takes dedication. And Matt has that."
As in any relationship between instructor and student total trust is the key component. The instructor has to prove himself and the student must listen, a simply philosophy.
"I teach total logic and I use video to demonstrate, just like the professionals do," added Speegle. "I wouldn't dare get Matt or any other student to do something that the professionals don't do. It's very easy to mess up a good player, I explain, with the use of video, keep it as simple as possible, get them on a correct path and barely tweak them. It's a step-by-step process with no shortcuts."
Although Speegle isn't with Matt this week on Long Island, the process that put him there is staying with the sophomore.
"Matt asked me to go to the Open with him and I was honored by that," added Speegle. "But, it was such a late thing I couldn't leave the course (Pinetree CC). But, I did tell Matt that I will follow him to plenty of other events because I am sure that this will not be a one time thing."
When asked about the challenge of Bethpage Black and everything surrounding the course, Speegle answered as simply and direct as his lessons.
"Matt's hitting as pure as you can hit it," said the instructor with deadpan seriousness. "But, no course is hard when you're in the middle of the fairway, hitting your greens and putting well."
"If he is a tour caliber player, and I believe he can be, than this is the first step for him," commented Speegle. "I can see him coming back to KSU, winning some college tournaments and see his confidence go through the roof."