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Ross McGee of Fairfield didn’t pick up a golf club until he was 13 years old and it was actually just a plastic club. And he was hitting wiffle golf balls.
But the Husson College senior has certainly made up for lost time.
McGee’s outstanding collegiate career was rewarded Sunday when he received the prestigious Guy Tedesco Award given to the New England college golfer who has made a significant contribution to college golf and who also reflects the values of sportsmanship exemplified by Guy Tedesco.
“I was kind of surprised. I’m from a small Division III school in Bangor, Maine. I would have thought they would have chosen somebody from a Division I school or something like that,” said McGee.
He was presented the award at a banquet on Cape Cod where the New England Regional championships for all divisions was held.
“It was really touching. Coach [Bruce MacGregor] did a really good job introducing me,” said McGee.
He said he was on “cloud nine” and he promptly went out and shot a 71 Monday in the first day of the two-day New England Intercollegiate Golf Association Championships at Captains Golf Course in Brewster, Mass.
“I was on cloud 10 [after that round],” said McGee, who added that the emotional high from the banquet carried over to the golf course.
“To have the other golfers come up and shake my hand after the banquet gave me a lot of confidence,” said McGee.
He added a 74 in Tuesday’s second round to finish at 1-over-par 145 while helping Husson capture the New England Division III title.
McGee finished third overall in the tourney while the Eagles finished fifth overall.
In his first three seasons, McGee was a two-time conference player of the year and a two-time selection to the All-New England Intercollegiate Golf Association Division III team. He was picked to the Northeast Region NCAA Division III team last year.
He has led Husson to three conference titles and two New England Division III championships.
He credits his stepfather, Randy Goodhue, an avid golfer, with introducing him to the game.
McGee fell in love with the game, and his mother, Marcia, would drop him off at Pine Ridge Municipal Golf Course in Waterville in the morning and pick him up at night.
He went on to get a junior membership at Waterville Country Club in Oakland and he has worked at golf courses during the summer months ever since.
McGee played for Lawrence High School, and although he never won the state tourney, he had just one loss and one tie in individual matches.
He also played basketball at Lawrence, including two years for his uncle, Mike McGee.
“He was pretty hard on me for a while, but it was all for the best. It helped me out a lot in life,” said McGee.
He decided to attend Husson because it was “it was a pretty good fit for me.”
“I wanted to play golf close to home, I knew the team was really good, and I knew a few of the players,” said McGee.
He was mentored by the veterans on the golf team his freshman year and now he has become the mentor as the two-year captain.
MacGregor has also been a major influence in his life.
“He is probably one of the most competitive people I’ve ever met and that has been carried on to me,” said McGee.
McGee works constantly on his putting and credited pro Colin Gillies of Penobscot Valley Country Club in Orono with a recent tip that has made a big difference in his putting. He would love to conclude his career with a trip to the nationals with his mates next spring.
He hopes to continue his golf career after graduation.
“I want to turn pro and become a Class A professional so when I do go out and try to join a tour, I’ll have that to fall back on. I’ll probably be in the golf business the rest of my life. I love being around the people and everything,” said McGee.
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