Stewart Druin won’t miss the cold weather and isn’t afraid of being homesick. 

The three-time All-Apollo golfer decided to continue his golfing career at the collegiate level after signing his letter of intent to golf at Southern Arkansas University. His new home is over 600 miles away from his hometown but Druin is ready to get some sunshine. 

“I really like the south,” said Druin. “The people, the weather is just so much better in the south. Plus, I can play golf all year round in the south so that is why I picked there.  I don’t think I’ll get home sick. I’m very excited to live the college lifestyle. 

Then again, he will have family close by. 

“Besides that, my grandma lives 30 minutes away from the campus,” said Druin. 

The Mule Riders compete at the NCAA Division II level. Druin won’t be the player with the longest drive home from school as three members of the roster are from Canada. The team competed in four tournaments last year with their best finish at the SAU Arkansas Collegiate, finishing 3rd out of 13 teams. Neriah Brown completed his second season as the team’s men’s and women’s head coach. 

The team competes at El Dorado and Druin said that the team’s home course is one of the best he has ever seen. 

“Their home course is one of the best in all of Arkansas and along with their campus and the people there,” said Druin. 

Druin figures to make an immediate impact on the team. Druin won the Apollo Conference as a sophomore and was a part of the unofficial state qualifying team. As a junior, Druin missed out on winning medalist honors to teammate Madden Johnson but was All-Apollo with a runner-up finish. The Green Wave advanced to the Sectional Championships but Druin missed out on the state tournament. 

His senior year was highlighted by making the All-Apollo team once again and helping the team clinch a Regional Championship. Druin also helped the team qualify for the state tournament as well. During the offseason, Druin participated in tournaments in Notay Begay in Texas, as well as the American Golf Junior Association Tournament in Pekin. 

Needless to say, the work has been put in and this cultivates a goal he has been striving at for years. 

“To be a college student-athlete, what that means to me is that I am a high-level athlete that is performing at a high level and I have to meet my expectations more than ever,” said Druin. “I would like to thank my parents for all the support they have given me along the way just day in and day out, without missing a beat, and always being there. Next my coach/mentor Mike Moncel has been a second father figure. The last year for me my golf game has gotten a lot better ever since I started going to him but also my understanding of the game the ins and outs and everything under the sun. Finally, I would like to thank all my friends that have been by my side and playing golf with me all throughout  the summer and pushing me to be a better golfer.”