Nathan Cogswell, a third-year business analytics major and Seattle U Men’s Golf player, won the Puget Sound Amateur tournament Oct. 18 at Chambers Bay Golf Course in University Place, Washington. He clinched the title with a final score of 144, posting round scores of 67 the first day and 77 the second day.

Cogswell’s recent victory caps off a succession of eight tournaments he has competed in over the past few months to stay sharp following the cancellation of the spring and fall college seasons due to COVID-19. 

Cogswell is trying to get back in the competition mindset with the newly rescheduled collegiate golf season expected to begin Jan. 2021. After taking a few months off, Cogswell participated in four tournaments throughout Aug. and Sept., and then completed his fourth and final competition in October. He finished in the top five all eight tournaments, second place in four of them and first in the Northwest Open Invitational in August—in addition to his title this past Sunday.

Regarding his play in the two-day Puget Sound Amateur tournament, Cogswell expanded on his performances in light of constantly shifting circumstances.

“The first day I played pretty well, but on the second day, I came back to the field. I found some things that I can work on. I want to work on building on the lead as I had a five-shot lead after the first day, but I wound up winning by only three shots,” Cogswell said. “Overall, I wasn’t very satisfied with my performance, yet happy that I won my last tournament before our school season hopefully starts in January.”

Over the past few tournaments, Cogswell has focused on improving his game. His strengths include hitting the ball far off of the tee to give himself good scoring opportunities, as well as a strong iron game. 

“I have to sharpen my strengths and improve my weaknesses so that I can hopefully get a few wins in the college season,” Cogswell added.

Cogswell has also been forced to acclimate to the challenges of playing competitive golf during a pandemic. Current restrictions are centered around limiting touch points. For example, players have to leave the flag in the hole and the number of golf balls utilized are limited

Despite recent changes, Cogswell has clearly risen to the challenge this year. As a reward for his hard work and continued success in 2020, Washington Golf, a statewide amateur golf association, named Nathan Cogswell as one of seven male players of the year. He will receive the award at the association’s 99th annual meeting, which will be held virtually Nov. 7. After receiving the award, he will focus on his upcoming collegiate campaign.

Cogswell said that the Seattle U men’s golf team is preparing to get back together and start practicing in January. If all goes well, they are planning to partake in a schedule that has yet to be determined. 

Though he has not seen many of his teammates recently being one of only three members of the nine person team currently living on campus, Cogswell said that the team’s coaches have held weekly team zoom meetings and that the players are connected through their group chat and team fantasy football competition. 

While Cogswell still has at least two years left as a member of the Seattle U golf team and has high expectations for this season and the remainder of his collegiate career, his goal is to become a professional golfer.

“I would love to turn pro right after college, yet that depends on my play this year and next year. I have been given the option to take a fifth year, so I may take that fifth year to play college golf and then turn pro,” Cogswell said.

In the meantime, Redhawk golf fans can look forward to catching Cogswell and the rest of the Seattle U men’s golfers in action when their season starts in January.