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Rice University Athletics
Rice Memories: Michael Buttacavoli
4/17/2020 3:37:00 PM | Men's Golf, Blog
I went to Rice with the expectation of a great education and participating as a student-athlete. What I didn't expect was the impact my experiences at Rice would have on the rest of my life.
I tore my ACL in November of my junior year and did not know what to expect thereafter. While my teammates competed in the spring, I spent that time in the training room with Nathan Peck rehabbing my knee. When Nate was unavailable, Dawn (Stuckey), Layne (Schramm), or Joey (Vargas) looked after me. Having spent very little time in the training room, I was a bit shy when I first walked in. I understood golf wasn't high up on the totem pole.
Fortunately, I was treated as though I was an All-American getting ready for the draft. I saw Nate, Dawn, Layne, and Joey nearly every day that semester. I watched these outstanding trainers care for every student-athlete with the same respect and discipline that they cared for me. It didn't matter to them if you were a team MVP or a benchwarmer. After many painful days of physical therapy, they not only got me back on my feet but they made me believe I could perform at a higher level than ever before.
I returned my senior year to our first event of the fall hosted by UTA. With a birdie on the last hole and a second place finish individually, I helped our team secure the first tournament win in 11 years. We went on to win a second tournament that year at the Rice Intercollegiate in front of our family and friends.
I turned pro soon after graduating. I have played on PGA Tour Canada, the Korn Ferry Tour (formerly Web.com Tour), and several other smaller tours in the US. I currently play on PGA Tour Latinoamérica where I tied the record for most wins in tour history with four. This pursuit has been full of extreme highs and lows. I've traveled to tournaments in over 20 countries around the world. I try to live my life with the same lessons I learned at Rice: treat everyone I encounter with equal enthusiasm and respect. Rice taught me to believe that no matter how bad things may get, I can always emerge stronger.
I tore my ACL in November of my junior year and did not know what to expect thereafter. While my teammates competed in the spring, I spent that time in the training room with Nathan Peck rehabbing my knee. When Nate was unavailable, Dawn (Stuckey), Layne (Schramm), or Joey (Vargas) looked after me. Having spent very little time in the training room, I was a bit shy when I first walked in. I understood golf wasn't high up on the totem pole.
Fortunately, I was treated as though I was an All-American getting ready for the draft. I saw Nate, Dawn, Layne, and Joey nearly every day that semester. I watched these outstanding trainers care for every student-athlete with the same respect and discipline that they cared for me. It didn't matter to them if you were a team MVP or a benchwarmer. After many painful days of physical therapy, they not only got me back on my feet but they made me believe I could perform at a higher level than ever before.
I returned my senior year to our first event of the fall hosted by UTA. With a birdie on the last hole and a second place finish individually, I helped our team secure the first tournament win in 11 years. We went on to win a second tournament that year at the Rice Intercollegiate in front of our family and friends.
I turned pro soon after graduating. I have played on PGA Tour Canada, the Korn Ferry Tour (formerly Web.com Tour), and several other smaller tours in the US. I currently play on PGA Tour Latinoamérica where I tied the record for most wins in tour history with four. This pursuit has been full of extreme highs and lows. I've traveled to tournaments in over 20 countries around the world. I try to live my life with the same lessons I learned at Rice: treat everyone I encounter with equal enthusiasm and respect. Rice taught me to believe that no matter how bad things may get, I can always emerge stronger.
Wednesday, March 09
Saturday, December 04
Thursday, December 02