The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
In The Clubhouse With Sam Love
10/12/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
Oct. 12, 2011
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- UAB sophomore golfer Sam Love is the next men's golfer to be highlighted in a season-long player profile series on UABsports.com called "In The Clubhouse." Throughout the year, UABsports.com will continue sit down with a member of the men's golf team and ask him random questions ranging from favorite tournaments to his childhood hero.
Love is making the most of his second season with the Blazers' men's golf team. He has seen action in all three tournaments UAB has competed in so far this season, averaging 73.0 strokes per round. Earlier this season, Love set a career-low with a 36-hole score of two-under par 142 and matched his 18-hole low score of 70.
Love has been a big reason why the Blazers are ranked among the top-15 teams in the country this season.
"So far, this season has been going pretty good," Love said. "I think I've been striking the ball a lot better than last season and as a team we are all playing much better. I haven't been playing as well as I would like in our tournaments, so I am just trying to improve and help the team."
A native of Trussville, Ala., Love says his game has made tremendous strides from his high school days where he was a standout performer at Trussville HS and ranked as high as No. 5 in the state of Alabama. He said a lot of his improvement is due to playing more difficult courses at the collegiate level.
"It's a lot different playing on the courses I do in college compared to high school," Love said. "The courses are much more difficult, but that forces me to become a better overall golfer. I realize what aspects of my game needs improving and I certainly feel I am a much better overall player now than when I competed at the high school level.
"My ultimate dream is to make the PGA Tour, so that's what I'm working towards. I just want to keep getting better and better.
Below are other things Love discussed with UABsports.com:
Date of Birth: March 16, 1992
Major: Industrial Distribution
Year: Sophomore
Hometown: Trussville, AL
Reasons you chose UAB: Good school for education; great golf program; great coach and assistant coach; great tournament schedule.
Favorite golf courses: Steelwood Country Club (Loxley, AL) and the Honors Course (Chattanooga, TN)
Most enjoyable class at UAB: Public Speaking; it showed me that it's not so scary to get up in front of people and talk.
Dream job: Play on PGA Tour
Favorite tournament played in: The Dogwood Invitational in Atlanta, GA
Favorite tournament to watch: The Masters
Favorite professional golfers: Graeme McDowell, Steve Stricker, Davis Love III
Favorite food: Grits, steak
Favorite singer/group: Alabama
Favorite Movie: Joe Dirt
Favorite Actor: Johnny Depp
Favorite sports: Golf
Favorite sports team: Atlanta Braves
Best book you have read: Fearless Golf
Best thing about being a UAB golfer: Getting to play all the really nice courses around Birmingham and getting to go to really cool places on tournament trips.
Funniest teammate: Shuff
What clubs are in your golf bag: Taylormade Burner 2.0 Driver, Wilson's staff putter, Titleist 910 Hybrid, Titleist Vokey wedges, Mizuno MP.001 3wood, and Titleist APZ Irons
Your proudest moment in golf so far: Shooting 67 and 64 in a junior tournament in Fort Payne, Alabama
Goals for this season: Make all the tournaments this year, make the All-Conference team, and win a college event this year.
Dream vacation destination: Bahamas
Favorite TV shows: That 70s Show, King of the Hill, and Two and a Half Men
Golf ball played: Titleist Pro V1X
Hardest holes in Birmingham: #17 at Old Overton
Favorite courses in Birmingham: Birmingham Country Club, Pinetree Country Club, and Old Overton Country Club
Number of holes in one: 1
Best place to eat around campus: Al's Deli
Smartest teammate: Thomas Sutton
Strongest Part of your game: My ball striking has always been a really good part of my game, and I have been working a lot on my wedges and putting. I also feel like I'm getting really good with my wedges.
I love UAB because: I really enjoy getting to play so much golf and getting to go to tournaments. I also like the classes that one offered at UAB. The teachers I have had have been really good and I am beginning to learn how to study better.
