By Andrew Santillo, The Troy Record


Saint Rose interim men’s golf coach Joshua Jennings sent Matt Horton up to the tee on the first day of practice, just to see what the freshman had in him.

The Troy native hit a good shot and he’s been hitting good shots ever since.

“He loves this game, he loves to play and that’s one of the reasons why he’s been so successful here,” Jennings said.

Horton tees off today in the 2009 NCAA Division II Atlantic/East Regional, which is being held at The Glade Springs Resort Golf Club in West Virginia and runs through Wednesday.

Horton is just the fourth individual in the program’s eight years to make it this far.

“It’s a big tournament, but I’m definitely pumped to play in it,” said Horton via phone Saturday night. “It’s an honor to be representing Saint Rose.”

Horton led the Golden Knights with a 77.7 stroke average for the year. The Hoosic Valley High School graduate represented Section II at Cornell University last June at the New York State High School Championships and was The Record’s Golfer of the Week last August.

Despite being on the biggest stage, Horton says he is still striving to qualify for the next round and will be looking to shoot in the mid-70s on the Cobb Course, which plays very long.

“I think that he really has a shot to do well if he just worries about himself and his game,” Jennings said.

Horton gives some of the credit for his successes to his teammates, who have helped him become part of the team right from the start of the year.

“We hang out all the time and they’re all really good guys,” Horton said.

In particular, Horton credits his friendship with senior captain Jamie Bacon as vital to his success.

Bacon, Stillwater native Scott Daigle and Bob Cain are the other three players in school history to make it as far as Horton has this season and none have advanced to the next round.

Bacon, a native of Port Perry, Ontario, made it to the regional round in his freshman and sophomore years.

“We’ve played a lot together over the year and become real good friends throughout the course of the year,” said Horton of his relationship Bacon.

Horton says Bacon beat him nearly every day in practice, but it pushed him to get better.

“Jamie was our number one and I think (Matt) needed somebody to push him,” Jennings said. “I think Matt and him together have increased the level of play, not only for themselves, but for the team.”

Horton really got his season going at the Eagle Shootout in Bloomfield, Conn., during the Fall season, back in October.

After shooting a 76 on the first day, he came from five shots down on day two to win the event with a 69.

“I didn’t know how good he was going to be until that tournament in Connecticut,” Jennings said.

Horton also made school history by becoming the first play to break 70 in a round.

“I gained a lot of confidence and won the tournament after that,” he said.

Horton took top honors after shooting a three-over 74 at the Franklin Pierce Fall Classic, while the Saint Rose team took home the team title.

“You just knew he was putting something special together and playing his best golf in that three-week span,” Jennings said.

While golf isn’t usually thought of as a team sport, Horton says it is priority number one at the collegiate level.

“I would say that the definitely comes first, but your individual performance is always in the back of your head.”

Horton’s father Steve is making the 12-hour drive down with a friend to see his son compete this week.

“My family is very excited,” Horton said. “My parents have been behind me all the way.”

While Horton still has aspirations of playing professionally after college, his focus right now is on the tournament he called the biggest of his young life.