After winning the 2024 SIAC Golf Championship this past April, Miles head golf coach Leonard Smoot went to work on preparing his program to endure another title chase.
But instead of the regular tasks of recruiting and scheduling, Smoot and the Golden Bears were presented with another opportunity – to compete in one of the most prestigious collegiate golf events in Japan.
The Miles golf team will board a flight on Sunday and head to Miyoshi City, Japan to compete in the University Golf Super League tournament, which features men's and women's collegiate golf teams from Japan, the Unites States, and throughout Asia. The Golden Bears will play 18-hole rounds on three consecutive days beginning Sept 4.
"I got a call from people with the PGA Tour Pathway to Progression (program) and asked if we would like to participate. Most of the time, it's Division I schools that are chosen to compete in this event. But they asked if we wanted to go," Smoot said.
"I thought it was a great opportunity for our student-athletes here at Miles College to be able to travel abroad and see something different outside of the U.S. Many of them haven't traveled outside of the country so I thought this was a great opportunity. So I said, Yes!"
Senior Phillip Darst said that when Smoot approached the team about this opportunity during the summer months, it just seemed like innocuous discussion about a different place to play golf.
"It was a random question in the middle of the summer. How would y'all like to go play on Japan? Me and my teammates, we all were like Yeah," Darst said. "But when I found out it was actually happening, I was stoked."
Darst, and team captain Malachi Greene, were both blown away that the team would be presented with the chance to play international golf. It certainly was not on their minds when they chose to play collegiate golf at Miles.
"These opportunities don't come every day so I'm appreciative that we have this chance," Green said. "I praise God and give Him all the glory for having an experience like this.
"When I came to Miles, I was just focused on winning a championship. After getting that under our belt, this is the next opportunity that we get to take on."
Smoot says this trip is about more than just playing golf. He wants his team to be a great representative for Miles.
"We get an opportunity to do something special. We get to be ambassadors for the institution and our sports programs. Being able to compete against other countries and showcase what we have in term of sports here at Miles."
The student-athletes having an opportunity to enrich their lives beyond the walls of Miles is an appealing part of this trip, according to Director of Athletics Fred Watson.
"This will be a cultural experience for our student-athletes. Yes, we are going over there to compete at the highest level and show the world what Miles College is capable of, but more importantly, it is a great education and enrichment opportunity for our golfers, as well as a tremendous opportunity to expand our brand and the visibility of our athletic department," Watson said. "We are grateful for the invite."
Darst, a senior from Mobile, Ala., said this trip just continues in the line of work that Coach Smoot has done to give his student-athletes an incredible collegiate experience.
"It's been a blessing to play here at Miles. I wasn't expecting much as an incoming freshman. I wasn't expecting to travel places like Philadelphia, and play on courses like Sawgrass, and do a lot of the cool things that we've done here. That's all thanks to Coach Smoot.
"He's been trying his hardest to get us experiences that others wouldn't get. I don't know of any DII schools that get to play in another country. He's done a phenomenal job."
But still, playing golf is what the team is traveling to do and despite the additional experiences that come from a big opportunity such as this, the focus is on going to perform at their highest level despite any possible adjustments that need to be made.
"It's the same preparation that we have to do for any other tournament. However, the language barrier may be a big factor, understanding some of the Japanese culture, and just getting them mentally prepared in understanding that this is a whole different experience that we are about to walk into," said Smoot, who added that his team will have to adjust to a 16-hour flight as well as a significant time change.
Darst has done all he can to make sure he's ready for his shot to be atop the leaderboard.
"I've been trying to prepare the best that I can. They have a similar climate to what we have here. I've researched the course. I see what kind of grass they have on their greens and I've putted on it before. We might be playing at elevation, so that part might be a little tricky."
Greene, an All-Conference selection from Sharon, Pa., said he does not know quite what to expect once the Golden Bears arrive in Japan. But the team has goals they intend to accomplish along the way.
"We talk about our expectations and about representing your family, your last name, yourself, and Miles. We have to focus on representing them all in a good way," Greene said. "But we're not just going to have an experience. We're going there to win."
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