By TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Stepping into a leadership role is always a challenge. Doing so during a global pandemic and as an underclassman is even more so, but for Tennessee Tech men's golfer Nick Sutton, it's a challenge he has accepted with open arms.
"Nick is a consummate teammate," Tech head coach Polk Brown expressed. "He always brings positive, contagious energy to the room every day. He has an amazing work ethic and has produced outstanding work in the classroom. Nick is only a sophomore, but he has already taken on a huge leadership role with the guys."
As a freshman during the 2019-20 campaign, Sutton was one of just three Tech golfers to complete all 17 rounds before the season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He wrapped up the year with a scoring average of 75.06 and season-best tournament score of 216, earning the program's inaugural Coach's Award.
Having established himself on the links as a rookie, he shifted some focus onto becoming a leader off the course.
"Amidst all the uncertainty of the pandemic, Nick has done a tremendous job of embracing the challenges that have come our way," Brown explained. "He has maintained an amazing outlook on everything, both good and bad. This has been essential for our program to get through these different times."
This season, Sutton has continued to lead by example on the golf course, ranking second on the team with a 73.78 scoring average in three events and nine rounds of play. He owns both a top-five and top-10 finish on the year while boasting the team's lowest round of the season, a career-best 68.
"Nick is a leader," Brown added. "He exudes a positive influence on the team day-in and day-out. His work ethic alone brings great energy to our team on a consistent basis. We are very fortunate to have him as part of our program."
It is for these qualities that Sutton is the recipient of the 2021 February Unsung Leader Award.
The Unsung Leader Award is selected from student-athletes, who have been nominated by their coaching staff, for exemplifying outstanding leadership qualities during the past month. The leadership can be shown on the field, in the weight room, at practice, in the classroom, in study hall, on campus, in the community or for a student club or organization.
The award honors a varsity student-athlete who has made a positive impact on their team and the Tennessee Tech community as a whole, through his or her dedication to demonstrating leadership traits, such as:
- Keep learning, growing and improving
- Follow through with excellence
- Accomplish more than expected
- Inspire and motivate others
Photo by Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
