Transfer Mark Anderson said he will do anything to help the UNM golf team win the national title this season.
"I want to do whatever it takes for the team to win this year, whether that means shooting a 55 or calling my teammates to encourage them while they travel," Anderson said.
Anderson spent his freshman and sophomore years golfing at the University of Louisville. He was named All Conference-USA and placed 10th in the conference in the 2002-2003 season with an average of 74.42 strokes.
During the summer of 2003, Anderson won the Northwest Amateur.
Despite his success, Anderson said he decided the Louisville program was not right for him and he was ready to move on.
"Louisville wasn't a good fit for me," Anderson said. "I was not developing at the rate I wanted to, and I thought I could do more elsewhere."
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Anderson said he planned to take a year off from collegiate competition. He intended to work with his instructor and move south to improve his game before returning to finish his two years of eligibility.
Mark's older brother Jim Anderson was golfing for UNM at the time and told his coaches his brother was exploring other options. Mark said head coach Glen Millican and assistant coach Ryan Murphy are why he changed his plans.
"Coach Millican called, and he was so enthusiastic," Anderson said. "Later, I was on a putting green and talked to coach Murphy for hours about developing as a player. Within a matter of 48 hours, I said, 'I'm going to UNM, and I can't wait.'"
Anderson finalized his decision to come to UNM and spent the 2003-2004 season as a redshirt.
He said a Division I program was very enticing, and because his brother was here, he knew how much the program had to offer. He said his experience in the UNM golf program has been positive since day one.
"Players and coaches communicate really well here," Anderson said. "I have a player-coach relationship where I know what is expected of me, but I consider my coaches friends and people I look up to."
So far this season, Anderson won the South Dakota State Match Competition and qualified for the U.S. Amateur. Anderson said he thinks the possibilities are endless for the 2004-2005 golf team.
"We have the potential to do something really amazing," Anderson said. "Coming to UNM is the best decision I have ever made."
