Alex Heck is doing it wrong, this bidding a temporary farewell to one’s comfort zone.
History tells us most college transfers are more likely to move closer to home, not farther away. But Heck, a 2020 Center Grove graduate, pulled a reversal.
After attending Valparaiso University (175 miles away) for one year, Heck is a sophomore student-athlete at St. Leo University (944 miles away) a half-hour’s drive northeast of Tampa, Florida.
Heck, who said an even closer campus (IUPUI) was his third finalist for potential destinations coming out of high school, arrived at St. Leo the last week of August and has been settling in nicely ever since.
“I’ve loved it down here so far. Everything has been good,” he said. “Everyone has welcomed me with open arms, the campus is beautiful and our home golf course (Lake Jovita Golf and Country Club) is really good, too. It has two 18-hole courses.
“Really, the big thing (at Valpo) is it just wasn’t a good fit. When you’re snowed in for four or five months, it’s hard to do what you love to do.”
In Heck’s case, that means playing competitive rounds of golf or putting in the hours necessary to improve whatever aspect of his game he feels needs work. In his one year at Valpo, he took part in 16 competitive rounds, with an average 18-hole score of 75.69 and a low round of 72.
His golf career at St. Leo began impressively, with Heck helping the Lions capture the seven-team Griffin Invitational in Petersburg, Virginia, earlier this month. Playing the No. 3 spot in the lineup, Heck shot 76, 69 and 74 to place sixth individually.
Today, St. Leo starts play at the Cougar Invitational in Columbus, Georgia.
The warmer temperatures associated with living in Florida are going to enable Heck to play practice rounds outdoors even during the three months separating the Lions’ fall and spring seasons.
“Our home course having 36 holes, you can simulate almost any course,” Heck said. “You can get the length and difficulty of shots. Playing year-round is nice because it’s something I’ve never experienced before. I’m really excited to be able to work on different aspects of my game in the offseason.”
Now in his ninth season as the St. Leo coach, Chris Greenwood recruited Heck while the latter was at Center Grove. And though Heck’s arrival to campus is a tad later than he hoped, Greenwood isn’t surprised given the fluid nature of today’s transfer portal.
Greenwood himself played two seasons of golf at Virginia Tech before transferring to North Carolina State. He graduated in 1992, long before the portal was the revolving door it is today.
“I would not say I was surprised the way things work today,” said Greenwood, who has guided four Lion squads to the NCAA Division II national tournament, including the 2016 team champion. “Alex brings consistency to our program with his scores, and I’m not going to have to worry about anything.
“He’s going to handle his academics, be at practice on time and do the things he has to do to be successful.”
