You need a reminder that today’s youth offer great promise for our future? Searching for the latest validation that golf is our greatest game?
You’ve come to the right place, for I offer you Gregor Tait.
OK, it’s likely you haven’t heard of the fifth-year golfer at Seton Hall, but here’s a modest suggestion that you’ll entirely approve of his actions last week after the final round of the Big East Golf Championships in Pine Mountain, Ga.
Caleb Manuel of the University of Connecticut called Tait’s actions “classy” and Seton Hall coach Clay White gushed that his player “was wise beyond his years . . . he knows what is right and wrong.”
In a world that can be overzealously competitive, Tait was presented the opportunity to win a golf competition but chose instead to concede defeat. Not that he really lost, however, because in choosing not to play off against Manuel, Tait won enormous respect and admiration – commodities that are more precious than birdies and par-saves.
So, if you keep in mind that college golf is refreshingly better than weekly pro tournaments in many respects because individual success takes a back seat to how your team is doing, here is the story:
White’s quest to finally win a Big East Championship had to run through teams that had in recent years spoiled things for the Pirates – Marquette and UConn. Through two rounds, lo and behold, there they were again: Marquette and UConn tied for first at 570, Seton Hall next at 571.
Being low individual? Tait laughed. “I mean, it was nothing I was even thinking about, being six behind (Manuel, who had burned it up at 68-66 to be comfortably ahead).”
Even when he eagled the par-5 16th at Callaway Gardens and made a lengthy birdie putt at the 18th, Tait’s only thrill was knowing that his 7-under 65 had pretty much cemented Seton Hall’s team victory.
Yes, he knew that that at 11-under he had pushed ahead of Manuel, but the UConn sophomore had a few holes to play. Besides, “this was all about the crazy thrill we had for coach,” said Tait.
On the course, Manuel pretty much knew that Seton Hall had played beautifully to overtake Marquette and that UConn as a team had not had its best day (at 290 – 860, the Huskies finished third, 11 behind SH), but he didn’t officially know where he stood. Didn’t ask, either, but when he birdied the 16th, Manuel thought he was in the lead.
When he finished par, par, he discovered that he and Tait had both shot 11-under scores. Playoff time.
Which is where it got intriguing and where a young man’s character shined.
“I asked coach if the playoff was to determine the (Big East individual champion) or the automatic qualifier for the NCAA Regionals,” said Tait. “At first, they couldn’t tell us so we all went down to the first tee.”
When they got there, the players and coaches got the official ruling: Manuel and Tait would be declared co-champions and there was no playoff for that title. They did, however, have to play off to determine who the low individual scorer was to earn the one automatic qualifier to the regionals.
At that point, “it was a no-brainer,” said Tait, who, if he had won the playoff over Manuel would have meant no AQ individual for the Big East.
“This was a matter of respect above all. It was about recognizing Caleb’s game. He’s one of the most consistent players I’ve ever met. He’s somebody whose game I respect massively.”
Tait told the official at the first tee he was conceding the playoff hole right there. There was some confusion, some stares, and Manuel confesses that it “was weird for a minute.”
White, meanwhile, was overcome with joy. “The whole thing was his idea. I would never make a player do that,” said White, who paused, then added words that were saturated in pride.
“But it is something I would always want a player to do and I’m not surprised Gregor did it. He is someone who is an example of how you should act and behave.”
When the official told Tait that you can’t concede a hole that really hasn’t been put in motion, the Scottish-born fifth-year senior turned to Manuel and smiled. Just bump it off the tee, he said, and Manuel finally realized what was going on.
The UConn sophomore nudged it off the tee, Tait extended his hand, and if ever there was a win-win moment, this was it.
As a member of the Big East championship team, Tait already had his place in the NCAA Regionals. “So, Gregor didn’t have any interest in taking an opportunity away from somebody to go (as the automatic qualifier for low individual),” said White. “To him, it was a no-brainer.”
But the true glory of what this young man who lives in England but is proud to play competitively beneath a Scottish flag did goes deeper than that. He made this decision in a split second, after asking officials to confirm the rules. He didn’t consult with his coach. He didn’t talk it over with Manuel. He didn’t get lost in a world that is filled with obnoxious “hey, look at me” people; instead, Gregor Tait embraced a bigger picture.
He saw the opportunity to get a UConn player whom he admired – an arch-rival, remember – into the Regionals as a bonus to the Big East Conference. Most of all, Tait chose to live by the words that constantly come from coach White.
“He tells us all the time, ‘Your game is important, yes, but there are bigger things going on.’ And he always says, ‘Your score doesn’t define you.’ ”
Amen to the coach. Bravo to the player.
(Read more on Caleb Manuel in New England Golf Journal. https://www.negolfjournal.com/caleb-manuel-maine-uconn-big-east/)
