Peters' Play at St Andrews Prepared Him for Wooster's Spring Season

With relentless rain and gusting winds becoming the norm in northeast Ohio this spring, The College of Wooster men's golf team has faced conditions this season that are on par with a round at St Andrews. For Michael Peters, that has worked out pretty well, as he studied abroad in Scotland last fall and practiced at historic St Andrews on a daily basis.

Peters, a junior, is a double major in economics and history, and like many Wooster students, he decided he wanted to study abroad to enhance his academic experience. Last fall, he spent the semester at St Andrews, a small town in Scotland that borders the North Sea, which is known for two of his biggest passions – history and golf.

"The city is very old looking, almost like part of a castle," recalled Peters. "The streets are extremely narrow, and the buildings are all pushed right up next to each other. It really has an ancient feel, and it was a great place to study history. And it's true that it's mostly cold, dark, and rainy."

Needless to say, Peters made the most of his time overseas. He enrolled at The University of St Andrews where he took courses like Scottish Social Problems and French Algeria, and he also toured many of the town's historic landmarks, including what remains of the St Andrews Cathedral and St Andrews Castle.

But of course, he also found time to play golf.

For just $230 (student discount), Peters received unlimited access to all seven courses in the town. This included The Old Course, which is often times home to the PGA's British Open, and is quite possibly the most well-known and historic place to golf in the world.

"It was magical. The course is just full of good vibes," said Peters about his first time playing on the course. "I had a really good first tee-shot, and I actually made par on the first hole. After that, I just couldn't stop smiling."

Peters would have a lot to smile about on his trip, as aside from playing recreationally, he also got the attention of the University's men's golf program, and earned a spot on the "Second Team" during the fall season. Despite having to adjust to match play, which is more traditional in Europe, Peters recorded a 5-0 record and says he learned new things about the game.

The University's golf team played its rounds at The Jubilee Course and The New Course, which are two of the seven courses in town. However, shooting for par on The Old Course was a goal Peters had set for himself all along, and he wasn't going to leave until he achieved it.

In mid-December, just a week before heading back home, Peters shot a one-under 71 on the legendary course, and he kept the scorecard to cherish it (pictured below).

"I was hesitant about missing the fall golf season here at Wooster, but it was such a great opportunity," said Peters. "And there's no doubt that I've been able to play better this spring (weather) because of my experiences at St Andrews."

Peters was named the North Coast Athletic Conference Player of the Week in late April, after he finished second at the Strimer Memorial Invitational despite battling awful conditions. Just recently, he earned second-team All-NCAC honors, the second all-conference nod of his career.

Not only is Peters a member of the golf team, and an excellent student, but he also lives in Grosjean House on campus, which is known for its service in the community. Peters and his housemates work at Friendtique, an antique shop in town, which donates all proceeds to Hospice and Palliative Care of Greater Wayne County.

Peters shot a one-under 71 on The Old Course on December 14, 2010.