Golf transfer is Chase-ing success (Herald article)

Tiger Woods? Arnold Palmer? Zach Johnson? No, but he is getting there.

Chase Vandenberg, a new member of the Cornerstone University golf team this past fall, is continually improving his golf game and helping his team while he does it.

So far, he has had a huge impact on the Golden Eagles’ golf team. During the fall semester, he maintained an average score of 74. This spring has not been any different for him, starting right where he left off.

“We’ve had one match so far [in the spring semester], and I shot 74, so I feel pretty good about the way I’ve played so far,” said Vandenberg.

Since a score of 72 is usually par, he is very close to taking the next step as a golfer. The best professional golfers tend to score in the high 60s, which is not far away from Vandenberg’s scores.

When assessing his golf game, Vandenberg said, “The best thing about my golf game would be my consistency. I can hit it straight. Probably my accuracy is my best [attribute], and my putting - I’m a pretty good putter.”

His hard work has helped him develop the skills necessary to be a success. In fact, he has quickly become the second leading golfer on the Cornerstone team.

Vandenberg transferred to Cornerstone this past fall after an ironic situation. He had spent two dissatisfied seasons at Kalamazoo Valley Community College, and he wanted a change. Before the fall 2006 semester, he received his opportunity.

Vandenberg said, “Halfway through the summer my dad randomly met the coach here … the coach said, ‘Bring your son out to Clear Brook Golf Club. We can play 18 holes, and it will be like a tryout for him.’”

Needless to say, the tryout went well.

Vandenberg could not be happier with the transfer. He feels that the competition at Cornerstone
is much better than at Kalamazoo Valley Community College, and he enjoys his teammates and coach.

Was Vandenberg a Tiger Woods golf prodigy at three years old? Not quite. His talents did not appear overnight. Though, he has been golfing since he was young.

When he was only eight years old, his grandfather built Mullenhurst Golf Course, and that is where it all started for Vandenberg. From there, he went on to compete in other venues as well.
“I got into junior tournaments in the Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo area. Two or three tournaments a summer,” said Vandenberg.

Over the years, his early experiences in life in golfing helped him find success. He went on to play four years of varsity golf in high school. Then came college. During his first two years at Kalamazoo Valley Community College, he went to the nationals in Alabama twice.

He said of the experience, “It was in Alabama, and they fly you down there. You get there and feel like a pro. You get water and Gatorade at every hole. They treated you real well.”
Clearly, he is thirsty to get back. Vandenberg said, “If we make it to nationals, it will make my year.”Is the team good enough, though?

“We’re good,” said Vandenberg. “We didn’t play up to our potential last fall. It was kind of inconsistent. If we all put it together, I think that the team has a serious shot of going to nationals. I truly believe that.”

They may have to play an underdog role to do so, but those are always the best stories anyway.

“No one’s expecting Cornerstone to come out and win it, but that’s kind of why I think we’re like the underdog,” said Vandenberg. “And I think that’s why we might surprise some people at regionals. We have a legit chance.”