Baseball's loss is LaSalle's gain

Michael Johnson’s road to the golf course began with a U-turn on the baseball field. 

The Ambler native is putting together an impressive freshman season for the golf team at LaSalle University.  The Explorers would not have the luxury of having Johnson on their team if not for a change of sports several years ago.

“I started playing baseball,” Johnson said.  “But I had a mishap with that, so I started to play golf a little more seriously.  My grandfather and my dad both played and they’ve always had me around the game.  It took my not wanting to play baseball and getting tired of it to actually switch to golf.”

Baseball’s loss is LaSalle’s gain as Johnson has become one of the top freshman golfers in the Atlantic 10 Conference.  Recently, Johnson was named the A-10 Rookie of the Week.  It was the fourth time this season Johnson received the award.

“It’s definitely a great honor,” said Johnson.  “I’ve been lucky that I’ve played well enough four times in four different weeks to get that honor.  Every time I get it, it just makes me want to get better.”

Johnson is averaging a team-best 76.7 strokes per round this spring.  His best score was a 70 earlier in the year.  Johnson has made a fast adjustment from high school to the college competition.  Johnson said his play in the summer set him up for an impressive freshman campaign.

“I was playing really well during the summer before I came in here,” Johnson said.  “I had the best finish of my career at a Philadelphia event.  That gave me a lot of confidence coming into college.  I just kept it going and got better each and every day.”

Johnson received valuable experience golfing at Hatboro-Horsham High School.  He finished second in the PIAA State Championship with a score of 150.  He was also the runner-up in Philadelphia Golf Association 108th Patterson Cup with a score of 140.  Johnson was a First team all-Suburban One League selection last season after being named to the second team as a junior.

Johnson believes the friendly competition he had with his Hatboro-Horsham teammates prepared him for the competition at LaSalle.

“I played with two other great players in high school,” said Johnson.  “That definitely motivated me to play better.  I always wanted to keep up with them.  Looking back on it, that definitely helped me improved.”

The game of golf can be mentally grueling even for the top players in the world.  Johnson has always kept his perspective on the course.  He never gets carried away with his best shot and doesn’t let his worst shot of the day affect him throughout his match.  

“Focus is definitely the biggest part of the game,” Johnson said.  “You have to always forget the shot you just hit.  If it’s bad on the first hole, you have 17 more holes to make it up.  Every shot is one shot and you just have to forget about it after you hit it.”

The golf program was part of the reason why Johnson chose LaSalle.  He is an accounting major who was impressed by the academics LaSalle has to offer.  Johnson also had the chance to stay close to home by heading to the Big Five school.  However, the Explorers offered a competitive program and a team with strong chemistry.

“The option to play golf at top courses with top competition in a top conference was very appealing,” said Johnson.  “We also have a great team.  Everyone gets along and has a fun time together.”

Johnson is putting together a special season, and knows it is only the beginning of what has the potential to be an impressive four-year run.

“I want to propel myself into the next three years of my college career,” Johnson said.  “I think I can do really well here and our team can do well.  I don’t think there is a better sport.”