Freshman Tringale wins at Hawaii, looks ahead
Freshman golf standout Cameron Tringale jumped out to a blazing start to the spring season with an impressive victory in the University of Hawaii-Hilo tournament two weeks ago. Tringale paced a field that included six of the top 30 teams in the nation and led his team to its second title on the year.
A native of Orange Country, Calif., Tringale began his golf development at the age of 10, when he became a steady performer on the junior golf circuits with consistent top 10 finishes. Tringale was named an honorable mention All-American by the American Junior Golf Association and earned the Los Angeles Times Orange County player of the year honors.
One of the highlights of his pre-collegiate play came in the summer of 2005 when he placed ninth in the stroke play portion of the U.S. Junior Amateur and advanced to the round of 16 in match play. Further, Tringale was an alternate for the U.S. Amateur.
After a fall season that included one top-five finish, he claimed the victory with solid rounds of 65, 67 and 70. In the final two rounds, Tringale surged to top the number one ranked player in the nation, Pablo Martin of Oklahoma State.
Tringale talked about his recent success. “I think the experience of playing and getting comfortable with myself in these collegiate events has helped,” he said. “My decision-making on the course has drastically improved since I showed up here at the beginning of the year. I finally put three good rounds together. In the other events I always had at least one good round, and I finally managed to string three together.”
With the win, Tringale vaulted to No. 35 in the Golfweek/Sagarin College Golf Rankings.
Tringale said his role is “trying to help the team win and prepare for the NCAA tournament.” The Tech golf team has a record of high finishes in the national championship, including second place in last year’s tournament. The NCAA golf championship will be hosted this year by the University of Portland at the Crosswater Golf Club in Sunriver, Ore.
Tringale also gave some insight into how the team is preparing for the postseason and what it will take to succeed. He said, “We’ve been growing the type of grass that they have at the host course at our practice facility so we can get used to it and learn to gradually adjust. We also try to play when the conditions are tough, because there is usually at least one day of nasty weather at the NCAAs.”
Though the team qualification process is tough, involving anywhere from two to six rounds, Tringale has traveled to every tournament this year. Tringale credits much of the improvement in his golf game to this exposure to high-caliber players.
“It’s great having a couple of the best players in college golf around all the time. I have learned a lot from Roberto [Castro], Kevin [Larsen] and everyone, and [I] wouldn’t have been as successful without them.”
Tringale also attributes his quality play to the help of Head Coach Bruce Heppler. “He’s been great. He can help me with my swing and with learning how to play the game more efficiently and effectively. He’s coached a lot of great players, so he obviously knows what he’s talking about.”
At the completion of a competitive spring season, Tringale plans on a summer schedule of play to include such prestigious amateur tournaments as the California Amateur, the Player’s Amateur and the Southern Amateur, among others.
Following victories at the Waikoloa Village golf course on Hawaii’s Big Island under difficult conditions, Tringale and the Tech golf team look forward to the Puerto Rico Classic Feb. 26-28. Tringale will no doubt be looking to continue his superb play as the Tech team marches towards the national championship.
