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TEE TIMES
June 2020
www.teetimespaper.com
Nolan Ray has the Right Stuff
Lipscomb transfer has sights set on professional golf career By Justin Onslow Tee Times Associate Editor The physical tools it takes to be a successful golfer in the collegiate ranks are gifted to many. What separates the good from the great and the success stories from failure lies between the ears. By that measure, Nolan Ray is great, and his success story is just beginning. Some in Tennessee may recognize Ray from his victory in the Tennessee State Amateur Championship last August. Others know him as a former standout at the University of Tennessee, and others still know Ray as the redshirt senior who transferred to Lipscomb University for one last shot at collegiate golf glory and to complete his master’s degree and be closer to home. All of those footnotes in Ray’s story are accurate, as is the fact that he holds Brentwood High
School’s all-time record for ninehole scoring average (34.5). And that he was well on his way to another tremendously successful college golf season in 2020 before it was cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic. Ray has found success, and it has little to do with his 6’3”, 180-pound frame or his ability to hit draws and fades and fairways. Sure, that’s obviously an important part of it all, but the 24-year-old soon-to-be certified public accountant has gotten to where he is now – and is on his way to where he wants to be – thanks to maturity beyond his years. He’s got the right stuff between the tee markers and between his ears.
Learning from Disappointment Ray joined Tennessee’s golf program straight out of high school, but his college career began with disappointment. In-
stead of competing for the program, he was redshirted and spent his entire freshman year watching from the sidelines. “Honestly, I was disappointed,” admits Ray. “Like any other freshman, I wanted to go there and play golf and help the team and be a part of the team. I think it’d be weird if you didn’t have those aspirations. “It was a little bit of a disappointment for me, but I learned from it. I tell people all the time when they start freshman year that Nolan Ray wins you just don’t think it’s the 2019 104th Tennessee State going to be that different, Amateur at but it’s the little things Honors Course that add up that you didn’t have to do at home that really catch you.” after the 2019 season. Instead, In retrospect, Ray is thankful he made a measured, calculated for that redshirt season to get decision in choosing to wait. his collegiate legs under him. He Prioritizing school and a strong doesn’t see setbacks as failures foundation for the future first, so much as opportunities. the Brentwood native trans“Looking back now, five years ferred closer to home to earn his later, I am beyond thankful I master’s in accounting and play redshirted,” he adds. “I didn’t one more season, this time at choose to, but I’m so thankful I Lipscomb. did. It was just another year to “I love Tennessee,” he says. “I adapt. There’s not many times wouldn’t change it (his career) in golf you get an entire year to for anything. One of the bigmaster your craft and to have a gest reasons I transferred was year to pick apart your swing I was already a little bit old for and be honest with yourself.” my grade going into college Following that redshirt season, and then I redshirted. We had a Ray went on to have three ter- young team, and I felt like I was rific years as a key member of in a different phase of life. I was UT’s golf team. As a sophomore, just ready to come home. Profeshe posted a 73.47 scoring aver- sional golf was definitely on my age and turned in three top-25 mind, and I always wanted to be finishes. Following a somewhat in Nashville when I turn pro.” less impressive junior season, So, Ray made the move to NashRay carried a career-best 72.89 ville to prioritize the things that scoring average in 27 rounds matter most to him. over nine tournaments – an ex“I figured out that my environclamation point on what was al- ment was a huge thing for me,” ready a fine career. he adds. “I guess to boil it down, But following 2019, Ray wasn’t I figured that my priorities are looking back on any of it. He was golf, school and friends and famlooking ahead in a way most ily, and I felt like when I came people not yet old enough to home, I could focus on those prirent a car are capable of. orities a little bit better.” So much so that Ray is just a The Next Step couple months from his master’s Ray aspires to play profession- degree, which he admits will be al golf, and he very easily could beneficial whether he makes it have opted to try his hand at Q in professional golf or not. School and a professional career “I haven’t given career pros-
