“It’s probably the best thing that has happened to me in my golf career, moving to the States,” –
Jackson Bugdalski
NSR student-athlete, Jackson Bugdalski has taken his golf to the next level since beginning his US college journey at Indian Hills Community College, Iowa in August 2015.
The talented youngster placed third (tied) at the National Tournament in May this year, finishing with a score of -9. He was also presented with the 2016 Phil Mickelson award for the most outstanding freshman golfer in NJCAA division 1 men’s golf.
Considering Jackson missed out on qualifying for his college team in the first few golfing events early in his time at Indian Hills, he has improved immeasurably and impressed all the right people!
“Moving over there was tough to begin with. I didn’t even qualify for the team for the first two events that we played in the fall. I think I was adapting to the new lifestyle,” Jackson admitted.
Since adjusting to the college way, Jackson has gone from strength to strength, being looked at by elite golf colleges and being named a finalist in the 2016 NJCAA Jack Nicklaus National Player of the Year award.
“A few big schools, three or four in the top twenty started looking at me. I got a few offers from Oklahoma and others. It’s going really well at the moment,” the excited athlete said.
After his first year at Community College and before returning for his second and final year, Jackson committed to the University of Oklahoma Sooners for the Fall of 2017. Oklahoma is a NCAA Division 1 school and will offer Jackson an incredible pathway for the next few years, playing elite golf and earning a world-class degree.
Bugdalski noted that Indian Hills has been fantastic for him and has cemented him in a great position for the future with the facilities and athlete support provided by the college.
“Going from junior college to a four-year college, I couldn’t have thought of any way to do it better. Going from high school pretty much straight into a four-year college degree would’ve been tough.
“The way they treat their athletes is unbelievable, they have all the resources you can think of; tutors, everything. The teachers are flexible because they know how much you are traveling, playing and focusing on your sport which is good,” he said.
Jackson believes that this incredible opportunity to study and play sport in the US has broadened his horizons beyond belief and that the only way to go from here is up.
“Coming to America you get a lot more exposure and more people looking at you. College sport is unbelievable, nothing can compare to it over here,” Jackson said.
Although Jackson admits that Australia has a great golf culture with professional athletes such as Jason Day coming from the land down under, he feels that going to America has been a great move and is the perfect place to progress towards his dream of becoming a professional golfer.
“A few of the coaches I’ve been talking to say; there’s never been a better time to be a college athlete!”
Jackson had a bit of a slow start adjusting to the climate in Iowa, with snowfall landing the golf team training indoors for three months of the year. Luckily the high calibre of sport in the US means that most colleges with elite sporting programs also boast first class facilities. This allowed Jackson to continue building his golf skills and impressing coaches, scouts and himself!
“It has flown by. I’m still in awe of what I’ve accomplished in the spring season. 5 wins out of 7 events…I’ve played really well,” Jackson noted of his recent performances.
Currently studying an AA degree, Jackson hopes to study Business in the future and recognises the potential for his career with both a college degree and high quality sporting background.
“If I can have better seasons for the next three years I can set myself up really well because I want to be a professional golfer. So that will set me up really well. That’s my main goal, but the beauty of college is that you still have that degree to fall back on. I can get a job in many places around the world!”
The only way is up for this incredibly talented golfer! Go get ‘em Jackson!
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