Michigan Golf Journal May 2020

Michigan Golf Journal Stranded in USA “Some on my floor are from China and can’t go home either,” he said. “Everyone from the United States left.” De Col’s father, Paolo, and sister, Eleonora, are quarantined at their home. “But they have a garden and are fine,” he said. His grandfather, Piero, and grandmother, Mirty, headed for the mountains “to see the least amount of people possible” and hunker down in the same area where the 2006 Winter Olympics were held. The freshman gets up early and picks up bagels to eat in his room or elsewhere, making a FaceTime connection with Dad and Eleonora while he eats breakfast and they have lunch. “That way we can eat together a meal,” De Col said. Then he takes online courses, picks up box meals later in the day, does some stretching to stay loose, and takes a break in the early afternoon. “I do a little putting,” said De Col, whose 74.92 strokes per 18 holes ranked third on the team, “and I swing (an iron) in my room, too. I put a glass on the floor and putt to it. The floor is actually good for putting. I have a line. I can go as far as 40 feet away, and no one is going to bother me.” Does he feel he is improving his putting? “Yeah,” said De Col, who smiled and chuckled during our Google Hangouts meeting. How did he celebrate his 20th birthday on April 1? “I had a phone call with other friends who are at Michigan, too,” said De Col. “It was like five of us talking, and I was fine.” The isolation has not been a problem for him, and he is following the advice of family members. “They advise me not to see anybody and avoid all contact,” said De Col. “But I like being home, and so that’s quite nice. Finding a daily routine has been very important.” How did he come to Michigan from Europe? “I was looking for a great athletic program with great