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Spencer Denney doesn鈥檛 say much on the golf course. He doesn鈥檛 need to. His game 鈥� steadier, sharper and more mature than it was a year ago 鈥� has started speaking for him.
The Battle Creek native and 麻豆映画传媒 sophomore was named the MCCAA Northern Conference Player of the Week for Sept. 27鈥揙ct. 5 after topping the leaderboard at the Hawks Invitational at the Riverview Highlands Golf Course with a 1鈥憉nder round, leading MCC to a team鈥憆ecord 292 and the tournament title. It was the kind of performance that confirmed what Denney and his coaches already knew 鈥� he鈥檚 trending toward another level.
鈥淚t felt good to play well because I鈥檝e been putting in a lot of work,鈥� Denney said. 鈥淚t was good to see a round come together and the practice pay off.鈥�
Denney鈥檚 rise hasn鈥檛 been accidental. He鈥檚 spent the past year reshaping his approach 鈥� not just practicing but learning how to practice.
鈥淚f you talked to him about it, he would say he learned how to practice correctly,鈥� MCC head coach Doug Harkema said. 鈥淗is golf swing is better and his short game is 10 times better. Putting, chipping, shots around the green 鈥� night and day since last year.鈥�
Denney said the key at Riverview was staying in the present.
鈥淚 think we did a better job of not getting caught up in the score,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e focused on executing each shot.鈥�
His own method is simple 鈥� treat every swing the same.
鈥淔or me, I try to treat every shot the same and just focus on my pre鈥憇hot routine and my process.鈥�
That mindset helped him avoid the trap that often derails young golfers 鈥� tightening up when a good round is unfolding.
鈥淚 learned and did a better job of continuing to play well while having a good round going,鈥� he said. 鈥淣ot getting nervous because I had a good round going.鈥�
A multi鈥憇port foundation
Before MCC, Denney was a standout at Harper Creek High School 鈥� a three鈥憈ime First Team All鈥慍onference golfer who helped the Beavers win back鈥憈o鈥慴ack league titles. He won two major tournaments 鈥� the All鈥慍ity championship as a sophomore with a 74, and the St. Phillip Invitational as a senior with a 73.
He also played basketball, helping Harper Creek to a conference championship while earning Honorable Mention All鈥慍onference honors.
Harkema said that background matters.
鈥淗e鈥檚 6鈥慺oot鈥�3, a dual鈥憇port athlete, and he loves the guys he plays with here,鈥� Harkema said. 鈥淗is attitude toward the game is exactly the same as mine, with a basketball team mentality. He says the same things I say to the team. He鈥檚 a great kid.鈥�
Denney said golf hooked him early.
鈥淚 started golfing when I was little, but I started really taking it seriously my freshman year of high school,鈥� he said. 鈥淢y dad got me into it.鈥�
Denney stuck with it because of the challenge, and it鈥檚 that challenge that continues to motivate him on the golf course today.
鈥淚 like golf because it is a really hard sport and it tests you mentally, which I think can help in life,鈥� he said. 鈥淢y favorite part is the feeling of playing good after practicing a lot.鈥�
A player growing into his potential
Denney鈥檚 biggest improvement this season has come off the tee 鈥� an area he struggled with last year.
鈥淚鈥檝e worked hard on a lot of parts of my game,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut off the tee, I have improved a lot. I really struggled there last year and I鈥檝e seen significant improvements so far.鈥�
Harkema said Denney鈥檚 progress is obvious.
鈥淗e鈥檚 on the right path to getting to another level,鈥� Harkema said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 all in. He shows up ready to play. He鈥檚 smart, he works constantly on his full swing and a ton on his short game. It鈥檚 going to be fun to see where he ends up.鈥�
Denney鈥檚 consistency is starting to show. Even on a tough course with tough wind recently, he finished second.
鈥淭o me that was a good backup to what we had just done,鈥� Harkema said. 鈥淚f that was regionals, we would鈥檝e qualified for the national championship.鈥�
Team culture and what comes next
Denney said MCC鈥檚 team environment has helped him grow.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been good because I think we have a really good group of guys this year and everyone gets along well,鈥� he said.
A team trip to Boyne earlier this season helped cement that bond.
鈥淚 feel like we bonded pretty well on that trip,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t was good spending a couple of days with the guys.鈥�
Denney is studying business management and hopes to continue his golf career at a four鈥憏ear university after MCC.
鈥淚 would like to go play another two years at another school after my sophomore year,鈥� he said. 鈥淭o get to that next level I need to continue to improve off the tee and improve with my wedges.鈥�
For now, he鈥檚 focused on the same thing that carried him through Riverview 鈥� the next shot.
鈥淚t feels good to be a college athlete because it shows that I have put the work into getting to where I鈥檓 at,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 hope to continue to better my golf game while at MCC.鈥�