FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Billy Tom Sargent gave Hilltoppers everywhere plenty of reasons to celebrate on Friday at Blessings Golf Club.
Not only did the redshirt senior from Georgetown, Ky., become the first Western Kentucky player to compete in an NCAA Championship, but he also fired an opening 1-under 71 that has him in the thick of contention for an individual title through 18 holes.
Most elated likely was the man who couldn’t be there.
“Coach Hatchett would be pretty proud right now,” Sargent said.
Phillip Hatchett was another father figure to Sargent and his Western Kentucky teammates. Last Father’s Day, Hatchett, a 55-year-old Hilltoppers alum who had just finished his eighth season as the program’s head coach, was hit and killed by a motorist while riding his bike.
“It’s still tough,” Sargent said, “but it gets a little better every day. The teammates around me have made it easier. We’ve all become closer and stronger because of what happened.”
When Chan Metts arrived last fall from Georgia Southern, he was instantly impressed by Western Kentucky’s togetherness. So much so that he decided not to change a thing. “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” was his mindset.
“From Day 1, they absolutely wanted to make sure they honored [Coach Hatchett] with this season,” Metts said.
Playing inspired golf for their late coach, the Hilltoppers notched six top-5 finishes this season and are in line to end the year in the top 100 of Golfstat’s rankings (they are currently 86th). They also led the Conference USA Championship after the first round but stumbled late to finish sixth and miss out on match play.
NCAA Men’s Championship: Individual scoring | Team scoring
“It was as emotional of a golf scene that I’ve ever been a part of,” Metts said. “There were a lot of tears and it was heartbreaking. These guys have been through so much losing a coach and having a new guy that they didn’t choose. But the way the guys handled it was all class. I told them, ‘Guys, what happened was tough … but Coach Hatchett would certainly have been be proud of everything that you’ve achieved this year.’”
Despite the team failing to make regionals, Sargent and fellow senior Stuart Easton each made it as individuals (the first time that’s happened at Western Kentucky, as well). Sargent birdied his final two holes in Athens, Ga., to get into a playoff. He then sunk a 30-footer to beat Nevada’s Stephen Osborne on the third extra hole.
Now, he’s here in Arkansas with a chance to make more history.
Metts likens Sargent to Georgia Southern senior Steven Fisk, an All-American who has won six times this season.
“Both of those guys are so good in the moment,” Metts said. “Not everybody can always handle that. Guys are either scoreboard watchers or they’re not, and Billy Tom is. He can get it done knowing where he is and what he needs to do to get the job done.”
On Friday, Sargent shrugged off two bogeys in his first four holes to reach 3 under through 12 holes. At that point, he led the NCAA Championship. He then three-putted for par at No. 15, followed with a three-putt bogey at No. 16 and drove his tee ball into the hazard at the par-4 finishing hole.
But he kept his blinders on and hit a wedge to 6 feet to set up a bogey-saving putt.
“That was a really big momentum putt going into tomorrow,” Metts said.
Sargent was two shots back of his playing competitor, Utah’s Kyler Dunkle, after the morning wave. He knows the pressure will heighten as the tournament progresses, and he’s ready.
He also knows he’s not alone. Sewn on his golf bag is “P4C,” which stands for “Play 4 Coach.” The same saying is written on his glove.
“I see it all the time,” Sargent said. “It’s like having two coaches out here because I know what Coach Hatchett would say to me on different shots.
“I’m always thinking about him.”