by Terry Moore
“Own and take up your space.”
This is not a realtor’s slogan but rather the adopted credo of Alex Scott, the heralded senior golfer at Grand Valley State University who competed in remarkable fashion in 2018.
The GLIAC Golfer of Year, Scott became the first amateur in 27 years to win the Tournament of Champions in August at Boyne Mountain closing with an 11-under par 61 and eventually earning the title in a playoff.
Two weeks later, the Traverse City native qualified as the 12th seed— after rounds of 70 and 72—for match play at the U.S. Amateur at storied Pebble Beach. Although he lost his first match 1-up, Scott received national television coverage and added accolades due to his stellar play.
“Although I’m disappointed I lost my match, I was happy with how I approached the tournament,” said Scott, who is set to graduate next April with a business degree in Supply Chain Management. “I prepared to win – all my rounds were in preparation to win the U.S. Amateur. When I was warming up on the range, I believed it was where I belonged.”
Which leads us back to the credo. Scott credits Scott Hebert, his longtime teacher, Traverse City G & CC head PGA professional and Michigan Golf Hall of Fame member, for instilling confidence in his game and mental outlook. 
“He told me to understand that whatever tournament I’m in, I’m there for a reason,” recalled Scott. “He said: ‘You made it there for a purpose so believe you’re as good as anyone in this field or the next.’”
And then Hebert added the kicker for his protege: “Own and take up your space.”
Coincidentally, Scott, age 21, received similar post-round advice from mini-tour pro Eric Lilleboe after the duo were paired together along with the equally accomplished Willie Mack III for the first round of the Tournament of Champions.
“As we were taking that long cart ride back to the clubhouse, I admitted to Eric I was nervous playing with such talented mini-tour players,” Scott said. “Eric shot 66, Willie shot 70 and I had a 73. Again, I doubted whether or not I belonged there.
“But Eric, a friend of my college coach Gary Bissell and someone I also really admire and respect, told me: ‘Look, you’re one of the best players in Division II golf, if not one of the best college players in the country, so believe in yourself and take up your space, go play well and try to make as many birdies as you can.’”
Taking the words to heart and paired again with Lilleboe and Mack, Scott fired a 67 on the Monument course during the second round.
“As good as I played, Eric still beat me by a shot and I started the final round eight shots behind him as the leader.”
Scott explained his sensational final round 61 as a “perfect storm” of elements and circumstances. Like a NASCAR driver seeing the checkered flag, Scott made his second eagle of the day on the back side along with three more birdies to card a 61, making him leader in the clubhouse with a 15-under 201 total. Scott then prevailed in the playoff over Mackenzie Tour PGA-Canada professional Sam Weatherhead of Grand Rapids.
“To shoot that final score gives you the belief you can do it again – as unlikely as it may sound,” Scott said. “You have to get mentally in that place to shoot a 61.”
That place includes owning your space.
A member of the Michigan Golf Hall of Fame and the Golf Writers Association of America, Terry Moore lives in Grand Rapids.
