As the only senior on the NSU men’s golf team, Richard Mansell hopes to be a leader for his teammates. From Staffordshire, England, Mansell transferred to NSU after his freshman year at Newberry College.
After two successful years at NSU, including a National Championship in 2015, Mansell is looking forward to his last year as a Shark. His main goals are to enjoy himself and to become a professional golfer after graduation. Although he already has a lot of experience, he is willing to keep learning every day.
Mansell explained his passion for golf and why coming to NSU was the right decision.
How did you start playing golf?
“My dad and grandfather both played. I was nine years old when I started, but I played soccer as well. It got to the point when I was around 12 and soccer was my favorite sport. I always wanted to play professionally and everything, but then decided I was better at golf. People were telling me that and I had to pick, so I picked golf.”
Are you happy now that you chose golf?
“So far my amateur career has been successful, I would say. I haven’t got an individual national championship yet, so fingers crossed for this year, but I am happy with how it’s been and obviously now that [golf] is what I want to do in the future I am happy.”
How did you find out about college in the US?
“One of my family friends used to play for NSU, Ben Taylor. He transferred from NSU to LSU but I saw the success he had in the U.S. and I kind of thought that I could be like him. I also came on vacation a couple of times when I was younger and played golf out here and just fell in love with the country.”
Why did you decide to transfer to NSU?
“I wasn’t happy at Newberry. I didn’t like the area and felt like I wasn’t getting the most of what I wanted to get basically. I was struggling with reaching where I wanted to go so I contacted the coach here [at NSU], Ryan Jamison, at the time. I was talking to a couple of other schools…but I came on a visit to NSU and fell in love with the campus and the area. Practice facilities were great and just thought it was a great step for me.”
What do you consider your biggest achievement in your athletic career?
“I would say my freshman year, I went from being ineligible my first semester, didn’t compete once, to play in the spring…I came to NSU without knowing what the coach expected [from me] but then I went on to my sophomore year to have still a very successful season. I had three wins, eight or nine Top 10, was ranked number two in the nation and then was First Team All-American…For me that was a big step, because going from my freshman year being at a not very good Division II school, I didn’t play my first semester and then just worked hard and knew where I wanted to be and achieved a lot that sophomore year.”
Who is the most influential person in your life?
“Definitely my dad. Really I should say both parents but I’m the only boy in the family. I have three sisters, so me and my dad have kind of a special bond and then we both love the game of golf…Also knowing how he opened up his business and what he had to go through for me to be where I am today. He worked 24/7 for 10 years straight trying to get that business running. Now me and my sisters can have whatever we want today but if it wasn’t for my mum and dad doing that, there’s no chance I’d be able to even be here today. So yeah, I would say my parents, but specifically my dad because we have that father and son bond.”
Do you have a favorite golfer?
“I do. It has to be Tiger Woods. His whole career is just unheard of. Currently I really enjoy watching Jason Day and Rory McIlroy play. Just the flare and spark they both play with and I really genuinely think that those two separate themselves when their game is on. There’s not [apart from those two] anyone who can beat them. Dustin Johnson is obviously coming up in the ranks but I think right now it has to be between Rory and Jason Day.”
Arnold Palmer passed away a few days ago. What are your thoughts about him?
“The man is a legend. If it wasn’t for him, the game we play would not be where it is today. It just shows how he has every aspect besides golf, like obviously he’s one of the greatest ever, top three greatest ever, but outside of golf he was a gentleman. Everyone loved him and I just think, obviously it’s hard for athletes to say this, but there is more to life than just a sport and he showed and represented that more than anyone…He was the role model. I think it is obviously a really sad time for the game but at the end of the day he was 87 years old, he had a great life and we have to sort of celebrate that.”
What are your plans or goals for your last year at NSU?
“This year I am trying to enjoy my last year in college because the step from college golf to next episode is a big step and I really want to enjoy being part of a team. Deep down I know I have the talent to do some good things here in my last year so I’m going to keep that thought in mind and then just really go and enjoy myself…really trying to be a leader for the team. I’m the only senior this year so I hope some of the guys can learn stuff from me and I hope we can all learn stuff from each other. This year I haven’t really thought about the end result, I’m more just focusing more on the day to day and just trying to really enjoy it. I know that if I put the work in good things will come.”
What are your plans after you graduate?
“After college I am going to play next summer as an amateur and then I plan to turn professional next year. That’s always been a dream of mine and I’m sort of waiting to see how this year goes and see what opportunities come to me after I graduate. Whether I am going back to Europe or staying in America, I don’t know yet. I am switching my mind all the time so I’m sort of open to opportunities right now but I definitely want to play professional golf after I graduate.”
