<p>Since his freshman year of high school, Ethan Shepherd has changed putters three times.</p>
<p>The latest switch, a move to a mallet putter instead of the lighter blade model he used during his freshman season at Indiana University, dates back to the start of this month.</p>
<p>Shepherd, who helped lead Center Grove to the 2017 state championship, is currently in the process of playing practice rounds and summer tournaments in an attempt to improve his game.</p>
<p>He knows it starts with how he fares on the greens.</p>[sc:text-divider text-divider-title="Story continues below gallery" ]
<p>“I would say my putting in college is definitely what held me back,” said Shepherd, who 18-hole average of 75.83 strokes was fifth-best among Hoosier players. “I wasn’t putting very well with the blade, for whatever reason.</p>
<p>“It doesn’t have to be a new putter. It’s just to get a new visual because I think it helps me. At least for me, it changes my confidence.”</p>
<p>The 19-year-old Shepherd, who maintained a 3.56 grade-point average as part of IU’s Kelley School of Business, is coming off a tie for fifth in the Indiana Amateur Open at Otter Creek Country Club in Columbus.</p>
<p>He started his post-freshman schedule making the cut at the Indianapolis Open. Shepherd finished in a 13th-place tie there with his 75-69—144.</p>
<p>On June 15, he shot a 4-under 68 to win a qualifying tournament in Bowling Green, Kentucky. That allows Shepherd to play in the Southern Amateur tournament at The Club at Olde Stone in Bowling Green from July 18-21.</p>
<p>Shepherd maps out his summer schedule every year based on the quality of the tournament, the opposition he’ll face and his own availability.</p>
<p>He feels he’s also adjusted to the time management challenges of being a Division I athlete.</p>
<p>“It was really tough to get out of class on a Thursday, go straight to a bus to go to the airport or a bus to drive to Chicago. It’s just kind of a tough transition,” said Shepherd, who represented IU in out-of-state tournaments played in Illinois (twice), California, Florida and Maryland.</p>
<p>“Then when you’re coming home you get back at midnight and have school the next day.”</p>
<p>Mike Mayer, who is starting his 21st season as Hoosiers’ head coach, has seen numerous freshmen transition to Division I golf. The more difficult academic workload combined with unfamiliar and more challenging golf courses often aren’t conducive to low 18-hole scores.</p>
<p>He is confident Shepherd’s best rounds of golf are ahead of him.</p>
<p>“It’s always a tough transition from high school golf to college golf, and from high school academics to college academics,” Mayer said. “I really think Ethan is learning how to juggle the academic requirements at a place like Indiana University.</p>
<p>“He made some great strides as a freshman. I believe he can become an outstanding collegiate golfer and I believe he will become an outstanding collegiate golfer.”</p>
<p>If the state am is any indication, the mallet putter Shepherd now uses is a good fit. After firing a first-round 75, Shepherd played the final three rounds seven-under par.</p>
<p>"I felt like I pretty well. I was definitely happy with it," he said. "A couple of three-putts here and there, but nothing that held me back too much."</p>[sc:pullout-title pullout-title="Ethan Shepherd tournament schedule" ][sc:pullout-text-begin]<p><strong>BUSY SUMMER</strong></p>
<p><strong>The summer golf schedule of Indiana University sophomore Ethan Shepherd:</strong></p>
<p><strong>Date;Tourney;City;Score;Place</strong></p>
<p>May 14;U.S. Open Local Qualifier;Muncie;70;3rd (tie)</p>
<p>May 21-22;Indianapolis Open;Noblesville;75-69—145;13th (tie)</p>
<p>June 13;Southern Amateur Championship qualifier;Bowling Green, Ky.;68;1st</p>
<p>June 18-21;Indiana Amateur Open;Columbus;75-69-70-70—284;5th (tie)</p>
<p>July 18-21;Southern Amateur Championship;Alvaton, Ky.;–</p>
<p>July 25-27;Northern Amateur Qualifier;Chesterton;–</p>[sc:pullout-text-end]
