In 2015, Ethan Marcus won an NCAA Division II menβs golf championship as a freshman at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Then he decided he wanted more.
Marcus transferred west, to a larger school and a different climate and culture. Now, the fifth-year senior will try to help the Arizona Wildcats win a title of their own.
βI started talking to my parents about wanting to get away from Florida and look at some bigger programs,β said Marcus, whose Wildcats will take part in the John Burns Intercollegiate starting Thursday in Lihue, Hawaii. βI figured it would be smart if I could get that opportunity to play against the best players in college.β
But beating the best can be a challenge.
Marcus competed in seven tournaments as a junior in 2016-17, shooting a 13-over-par 223 at the Pac-12 Championship to finish in a tie for 40th. Before his senior season began, Marcus struck a deal with coach Jim Anderson.
Marcus decided to redshirt, and while he sat, the Boca Raton, Florida, native would use Arizonaβs facilities to improve his game.
Anderson βwas on board right away,β Marcus said. βHe thought it was a good opportunity for me and for the team.β
Marcus returned last fall, but struggled through his qualifying rounds and failed to earn a spot in the Wildcatsβ starting five. He would have to wait until the spring to make his move.
βI wanted to prove to coach, myself and the guys on the team that I think Iβm one of the best players on the team,β he said. βI was like, βlet me prove it now.ββ
Marcus showed exactly how much heβs improved when when he rejoined the team in January. He cracked the starting five just in time for the Arizona Intercollegiate, which Arizona won.
Marcus summoned the same consistency that made him a terror on the course as a freshman in Florida. He shot par or better in all three rounds, including a five-under 66 in the final round to finish at 9 under par and in a tie for fifth. He owned the teamβs second-lowest individual score.
βIt was fun to finally have my name be called in that starting five,β Marcus said. βIt was definitely fun to be in a team atmosphere again ... and in contention.β
Marcusβ journey may not have been normal, but he said the game remains the same β whether itβs at a small school or a budding Pac-12 power, in Florida or at Arizona.
βNothing is really different,β he said. βItβs kind of just doing the same things over and over and letting that all accumulate and let it come to fruition.β
Now he calls winning a national championship at the Division I level βa very realistic goal.β
Marcusβ journey on the golf course has been a whirlwind, but heβs never lost sight of his No. 1 goal, which is to turn pro. Itβs one of the reasons why, Marcus said, he transferred to the UA to begin with.
βIn the back of my mind, I knew I wanted to be a professional golfer,β he said, βand I didnβt want to be surprised by that.β