Scholar Stories: Anderson Living Out Lifelong Dream as Michigan Golfer
4/18/2024 12:23:00 PM | Men's Golf, Features
Continuing the series that began in 2016-17, each week MGoBlue.com will highlight a Michigan student-athlete and their academic pursuits. These are our Scholar-Athlete Stories, presented by Absopure.
By Mya Fromwiller
Will Anderson, a senior on the University of Michigan men's golf team, has always dreamed of being a professional golfer and after four years at Michigan, his dream is about to become a reality. After graduation in May, Anderson will begin competing in professional events throughout the summer, and will then play in the Korn Ferry Tour Qualifying School in August and September. As Anderson looks forward to the next stage of his golf career, he looks back fondly at his time at Michigan.
Since he started playing golf, Anderson knew that Michigan was the place for him. He began playing golf as a child with his dad, Adam, who also played at Michigan in the 1990s, and instantly fell in love with the sport. He played in local tournaments around Michigan, his home state, but was soon competing at the national level. Although he grew up playing other sports, such as hockey, he decided that he wanted to focus solely on golf and play at the collegiate level.
Despite various accomplishments in other sports throughout high school, golf stood out as his favorite for a few reasons. He appreciates how golf requires lots of self-discipline and personal responsibility and enjoys the challenges of a more individualistic sport. His passion for golf allowed him to flourish, and after success in high school golf, Anderson was recruited by colleges across the country. However, when he received an offer from Michigan, he instantly accepted and fulfilled a lifelong dream of becoming a member of the U-M men's golf team.
"When I started to get recruited, I narrowed it down to a few schools, but once I got an offer from Michigan, it was a no-brainer," Anderson said. "I was trying to follow in [my father's] footsteps. I grew up a Michigan fan my whole life. It was the school I always wanted to go to."
Anderson's success in golf has continued throughout college, and he has earned many awards throughout his four seasons in Ann Arbor. He has been named Big Ten Golfer of the Week and carries the seventh-best career scoring average in Michigan history. Although Anderson has found individual success, he appreciates how collegiate golf still allows him to be a part of a team. He explains that it is a unique experience that he will miss once he starts playing professionally.
"With this being my last season, I'm trying to enjoy every opportunity. I enjoy traveling with the team, and am trying to enjoy the little things that I won't be able to experience after I graduate," Anderson said. "Competing on a team with them is something I'll miss once I go professional. I'll have to start practicing by myself."
Although Anderson has many fond memories with the team throughout his Michigan career, there is one that really stands out among the rest. He recalls a Big Ten match that they played in last February. The Wolverines struggled a bit throughout the match, but after a rain delay, the team ended up flipping the match against Penn State and went on to defeat Michigan State, Indiana and Northwestern to get a team win. He felt that that win helped the team build a lot of confidence and set them up well for the rest of the season. It was one of the first team wins that he was able to be a part of, and it is a special memory that he will remember long after he graduates.
Anderson's success in his sport has translated into his academics, and he has earned multiple academic distinction throughout his time at U-M, including Academic All-Big Ten, Big Ten Distinguished Scholar, GCAA Academic All American and U-M Academic Athletic Achievement.
Anderson is enrolled in the School of Kinesiology, and upon graduation, will receive a Bachelor of Science in sport management. He chose this major because it provided the perfect opportunity to combine his interest in business with his passion for sports.
As he began completing his major, Anderon realized the unique experiences the program had to offer and how the curriculum focused on translating class material into real-life scenarios. One of his favorite parts of the curriculum is the emphasis on professional development, which provided him with an opportunity to intern for State and Liberty, a clothing company founded in 2015 by two Michigan alumni. These opportunities have allowed Anderson to find his passions within sport management, which are marketing and planning.
However, Anderson has enjoyed more than just the subject matter of his major. He has enjoyed being around classmates that share his love for sports and business and working with them through different group projects, which are abundent in this program. The structure of the sports management major has allowed him to work collaboratively with other students in the School of Kinesiology and create lasting connections.
As he moves on from Michigan, Anderson is appreciative of both the environment and people that have supported him throughout his time as a Wolverine.
"My experience at Michigan has been everything I could have dreamed of," he said. "The coaches and teammates have been great. I've made a lot of lifelong friends here at the university, and have been able to live out the dream I always had."
Players Mentioned
