The wait is finally over for former ETSU golfer Seamus Power, who picked up his first-ever PGA Tour victory on Sunday.
The former Buccaneer great was crowned a PGA Tour winner for the first time in 106 career starts, but it didn’t come easy. Power outlasted J.T. Poston (a Western Carolina alum) on the sixth playoff hole of the 2021 Barbasol Championship.
With the win, Power became the sixth Buccaneer to win on the PGA Tour, joining Larry Hinson (1969), J.C. Snead (8x winner), Mike Hulbert (3x winner), Garrett Willis (2001) and Eric Axley (2006).
“It’s been a bit of a struggle early this season,” said Power. “I have found a bit of my form recently. This changes everything for me. Forever I will now be able to say that I am a winner on the PGA Tour. It hasn’t sunk in yet, but I couldn’t be prouder. I have too many people to thank, but this is unbelievable.”
Power has indeed found his form of late, earning his sixth consecutive top-20 finish, while notching his fourth top-10 in the last six events. Power is 82-under-par in his last six events.
“Seamus and I stay in touch and last week after another top-10 finish he texted me that he was getting closer and his first win on the PGA Tour wasn’t far away,” added former ETSU Men’s Golf Coach Fred Warren. “He was right!”
Watching Power win on Tour had to be a proud moment for Warren, the only NCAA golf coach who recognized the Irishman’s tremendous potential. According to a profile on Power that ran in the New York Times on July 3, 2019, Warren was on a recruiting trip at the 2005 European Boys’ Team Championship in Italy when he first laid eyes on Power.
Warren was looking to fill a slot that was left open when another young Irish golfer by the name of Rory McIlroy opted to stay in Europe and pursue a professional career instead of coming to the states and playing for ETSU. When Warren saw Power, he thought his game would translate well to the United States.
“He had an American-style game,” Warren told the New York Times, “a long hitter, aggressive, trying to make birdies. I was impressed with him.”
Warren came through with a scholarship offer, offering him the slot on ETSU’s roster left vacant when McIlroy decided to stay in Europe. But there was a catch: Power would have to wait a year to start his college career so there would be room for him on the team.
That was no problem for Power, who hadn’t garnered much interest from other college coaches he’d reached out to in the states. If Warren hadn’t come through with the offer, Power was prepared to pursue an accounting course at a college in Ireland.
As it turned out, Power’s patience was rewarded with a golden opportunity, and he’s made the most of it. The Irishman won a pair of conference championships at ETSU and turned pro following his senior season.
Victory seemed just over the horizon during his recent hot streak, and on Sunday, Power finally cashed in. With over $1 million in earnings over his last four events, Power may only have one regret at the way things turned out.
That accounting degree might come in handy right about now.
