Before he even had a chance to tee a ball up with his new Stetson University teammates, Hatters' freshman golfer Ian Ball established his credentials as a player to be reckoned with over this past weekend by winning the Volusia County Amateur title.
 
The tournament was played at Crane Lakes Golf & Country Club in Port Orange, which is fortunate for Ball, a Port Orange native who has spent three years working at the club.
 
The course, which plays to a par of 66, includes eight par 3 holes, eight par 4 holes and only two par fives.
 
"I was able to keep my emotions under control throughout the whole weekend because this place just feels like home," Ball said. "I was never aware of the leaderboard or what the other players were doing, I just trusted my game and let my familiarity with the course take over."
 
Ball opened the tournament with a six-under par 60 in the first round, but got off to a slow start on Sunday with a pair of bogeys within the first three holes. He was able to straighten things out and was one over at the turn before posting four birdies on the back nine, including three consecutive birdies down the stretch on holes 15, 16 and 17.
 
Ball's two-round score of nine-under par 123 was good for a four-stroke victory.
 
A product of Spruce Creek High School, Ball was a first team All-County selection this past year. He will be one of three new players on the Stetson men's golf team this fall.
 
About Stetson University Athletics: Stetson University's Athletics Program has a vision of developing a culture of champions athletically, academically and within the community. This vision is accomplished through a mission of recruiting and developing student-athletes, coaches and staff, creating a culture of champions, within and outside of competition. The department operates with five core values: Championship Culture, Integrity, Excellence, Pride/Tradition and Leadership. To learn more about the Vision, Mission and Core Values for Stetson Athletics, visit GoHatters.com and click on Mission Statement under the Inside Athletics tab.