When moving all the way from Auckland, New Zealand, Connor Barker never guessed he would be recognized for his efforts as a freshman golfer at the end of his first fall season at Winthrop.
From Nov. 3 to Nov. 5, Winthrop’s men’s golf team rode down to Kiawah Island to compete in the Kiawah Classic at Turtle Point. It was there where freshman golfer Connor Barker scored 218 and walked away as Big South Conference Men’s Golf Freshman of the Week.
The Eagles’ success bumped them up three spots, coming in 10th place with an overall score of 880. Winthrop finished with twenty-two birdies and two eagles in the tournament.
Barker finished two–over-par with total scores from three rounds of 72, 76 and 70. Barker has come under par only three rounds in his collegiate career, and he tied for 34th overall.
Two other men had excellent performances at this event as well. Senior Zak Butt ended 1-under-par in the final round, making this the second straight event he has went under par in the final round. Ryan Tattan, a junior from Essex, England, made one of the two eagles during the tournament at the Par 4 third hole. These two, as well as Barker, all tied with final scores of 218 (+2).
After the Classic, Barker was “taken aback” when his coach sent a congratulatory text informing him about the award.
“I didn’t really have much knowledge that these kinds of awards were presented week to week. It was definitely a cool surprise though and a nice way to finish my week,” Barker said.
Other than this recent achievement, the only other sports award Barker has earned was the U17 Auckland Player of the Year by the Eagles Foundation back in 2016.
Earlier in the season, Barker tied for first at Par 3, scoring 1-under at the Firestone Invitational. In his final round, Barker birdied five holes to a 1-under 71, finishing the invitational 222 (+6).
After visiting the United States only once during the summer of 2018 to play a few sporting events and tour a couple colleges in California, Barker is completely new to life in America. He is still adjusting to his new lifestyle as not only an international student, but an international student athlete.
“Being not only a freshman but a student athlete has definitely had its challenges throughout this first semester,” Barker said. “The busy schedule and a completely new environment thrown into one has definitely made for a chaotic but eventful first semester. I am just fortunate I have an awesome team of coach[es] and players alike around me who have all kept me going as well as plenty of backing from friends and family back home who keep reminding me why I am here.”
Barker is one of thirty-five international athletes here at Winthrop. Within the men’s golf team, he is one of four students from another country. Holding a piece of home close to his heart, Barker makes sure to always wear his manaia.
“[It] is a special necklace I received as a gift before I left for the US which I hold very dear to me,” Barker said. “It depicts from the Maori culture in New Zealand as a symbol of safety and warns of any such danger, while lifting courage and fight in its holder.”
Back in New Zealand, Barker started playing golf at the young age of four years old, but began using “plastic clubs almost as soon as [he] could stand.”
“Golf has always been an interest of mine from an early age although it was not always my main sport it has been something I couldn’t remember for a part of my childhood not playing,” Barker said.
Barker entered Winthrop as an undeclared major, but this first semester has slowly brought new light to a potential subject. He has “grown an interest in exercise science and plan[s] to declare at the start of the spring semester.”
The Kiawah Classic and Barker’s award marked the end of the fall season for the men’s golf team. They will be back in action on Feb. 24-25, 2020 as they travel to Hilton Head, SC for the Wexford Intercollegiate.
Photo courtesy of Winthrop Athletics
