Michael Letzig was an electrifying, though sometimes erratic, player during his first three years at UNM - then he made an attitude adjustment.
The 22-year-old, Richmond, Mo. native was as well known for his hot scoring - he holds the all-time 54-hole record at UNM (17-under-par 199 in 2001) - as he was for his hot temper.
But 2002-03 was a breakout year for Letzig. He won three times, including the Mountain West Conference and West Regional Championships, thanks in large part to a golfing wakeup call.
"A lot of it is just getting your ass kicked by guys who just aren't as good as you," Letzig said, firing another perfect 3-wood down range at the UNM Championship Course. "Then you realize that if someone is better mentally than you, it doesn't matter how good you are physically."
With his propensity for throwing clubs aside, and a degree in general business management he hopes he never has to use, Letzig has joined the professional ranks.
He signed with Players Group, which also represents PGA Tour players Fred Couples and Craig Stadler, and secured an equipment deal with Cleveland Golf Co. Other deals are in the works, but Letzig is tight-lipped about those.
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His pro debut came in his home state July 17-20 on the developmental NGA/Hooters Tour, and he didn't disappoint.
Despite a mediocre week with the putter, Letzig fired rounds of 66-66-70-69-271 at the Health Facilities Rehab Outpatient Center Classic to finish 17-under-par and alone in 14th place. The solid play earned him his first paycheck - a hearty $1,795.
"I had no desire to stay amateur," he said, switching to the driver and launching a long, controlled draw into the distance. "I figured if I was going to pay an entry fee, I might as well try to get my money back. But after you pay for your hotel and all, you don't really make very much."
In the short term, Letzig has his sights set on bigger and better things. His next stop will be Springfield, Mo. Aug. 11-17 for the Price Cutter Charity Championship, where another good week could earn him some serious cash in what amounts to the Triple-A of golf - the Nationwide Tour.
He says he wants to try Monday-qualifying for a few more Nationwide events after Springfield, but that the whole summer is geared toward the PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament this fall.
"My goal is to make it to the final stage of Q-School and then see what happens," Letzig said. "I want to have some status on some tour after Q-School."
Letzig, who is keeping Albuquerque as a home base until at least December, said he has enjoyed his summer. He took three weeks off from golf after the NCAA Championships and just relaxed. He is in town this week to caddy for his younger sister, Lindsey, in a women's tournament about 30 miles north of Albuquerque.
UNM was a perfect place for a golfer to go to school, Letzig said, taking a break from his stack of range balls.
"You get treated like royalty on the road. But I'm glad to be out of school. A lot of older people I've talked to say, 'the fun's over now, school's over.' But I think the fun's just starting. It's just golf now."
