Ex-Wave no lightweight
FGCU's Medinis works hard on game
BY SETH SOFFIAN • ssoffian@news-press.com •
April 14, 2010
1:10 A.M. — At about 5-foot-10 and all of 137
pounds, FGCU sophomore golfer Alex Medinis has
one standing order to help his game: Eat everything
he sees.
But the rail-thin Fort Myers High School graduate
has developed into one of FGCU's top players this
season because of more than his appetite.
"He's the hardest worker on our team," said FGCU
coach Jim Suttie.
On the practice range, in the gym and, apparently, at
the plate, Medinis has earned himself the nickname
"the terrier" because of his tireless work ethic.
"I think it should be changed to pit bull," said FGCU
assistant coach Brent Jensen. "He's a little guy, but
he doesn't give up. He's one of the hardest grinders
I've seen play. That makes up for a lot of his
shortcomings."
One of two players who has competed in all 10
tournaments for FGCU this season, the soft-spoken
Medinis will help lead the Eagles into next week's
Atlantic Sun Conference Championship with a game
that is as dogged and precise as it is distance-
challenged.
A mere 132 pounds when he entered FGCU, Medinis
played sporadically as a freshman while
incorporating swing changes to eliminate a "push
draw," a la Lee Trevino.
Learning a straight-forward strike that he can work
both ways, Medinis initially lost some distance,
something he could little afford.
But this season, he has added about five yards to
his high school driving distance, but with better
variety and consistency.
He also has worked in the weight room - with the
team and on his own - to add any bulk he can.
"Trying to bulk him up is telling him to eat
everything he sees," Jensen said. "I always say, if it's
edible, eat it."
Despite hitting the ball only about 260 yards,
Medinis has lowered his scoring average by about
2.5 strokes this season, to 74.0, while recording
five top-10 finishes.
Medinis credits a strong showing in U.S. Open
qualifying last summer with reinforcing that he can
compete with longer hitters.
"It was a changed mindset, just playing how I
should play, not trying to play like a bomber," said
Medinis, who had been letting his lack of distance
affect his play. "If someone hit it longer, I would let
that bother me.
"The tournaments I've played well, I've not let my
emotions overpower my game. I won't let my game
get me mad or upset me or cause me to lose
strokes."
Relying instead on methodical precision and a
pretty strong short game to become FGCU's steadiest
player this season, Medinis has progressed this
year to the point where he feels comfortable
contemplating a professional career after college,
provided he continues adding bulk and distance.
"There's a lot more to the game than just powering it
out there, especially in college golf. You have to be
able to putt, and he can putt really well," Suttie said.
"He'll probably add 15-20 yards before he leaves
(college). It's just you mature and your swing gets
better and your workout program gets more
consistent."
East Tennessee State and North Florida will be the
heavy favorites in next week's A-Sun Championship.
But with Medinis part of a close-knit squad that
features several Southwest Florida products -
including junior Daniel Mazziotta of Cypress Lake
High School - the Eagles like their chances.
"The rankings may not show it, but I think our team
is really deep," Medinis said. "I think if we have a
good week, we can win."
Medinis this season
Fort Myers High graduate Alex Medinis has played
in every tournament for FGCU this season while
lowering his scoring average to 74.0 in his
sophomore season.
Date, event, scores, finish
Sept. 21-22: Jim Colbert Intercollegiate, 81-77, 37th
Oct. 2-4: Mission Inn Fall Intercollegiate, 74-76-75,
T23
Oct. 12-13: FGCU Eagle Invitational, 74-74-73, 7th
Oct. 19-20: Mizuno Savannah Intercollegiate, 74-
75-78, T52
Oct. 23-25: Bethune-Cookman Invitational, 73-66-
75, T2
Nov. 2-3: Stetson Invitational 71-70-71, 5th
Feb. 15-16: Rice Intercollegiate, 77-77-77, T22
March 8-9: Don Benbow Invitational, 75-74, T26
March 12-14: Mission Inn Spring Fling, 77-74, 9th
March 26-28: FAU Spring Break Championship, 70-
68-73, 7th
FGCU's Medinis works hard on game
BY SETH SOFFIAN • ssoffian@news-press.com •
April 14, 2010
1:10 A.M. — At about 5-foot-10 and all of 137
pounds, FGCU sophomore golfer Alex Medinis has
one standing order to help his game: Eat everything
he sees.
But the rail-thin Fort Myers High School graduate
has developed into one of FGCU's top players this
season because of more than his appetite.
"He's the hardest worker on our team," said FGCU
coach Jim Suttie.
On the practice range, in the gym and, apparently, at
the plate, Medinis has earned himself the nickname
"the terrier" because of his tireless work ethic.
"I think it should be changed to pit bull," said FGCU
assistant coach Brent Jensen. "He's a little guy, but
he doesn't give up. He's one of the hardest grinders
I've seen play. That makes up for a lot of his
shortcomings."
One of two players who has competed in all 10
tournaments for FGCU this season, the soft-spoken
Medinis will help lead the Eagles into next week's
Atlantic Sun Conference Championship with a game
that is as dogged and precise as it is distance-
challenged.
A mere 132 pounds when he entered FGCU, Medinis
played sporadically as a freshman while
incorporating swing changes to eliminate a "push
draw," a la Lee Trevino.
Learning a straight-forward strike that he can work
both ways, Medinis initially lost some distance,
something he could little afford.
But this season, he has added about five yards to
his high school driving distance, but with better
variety and consistency.
He also has worked in the weight room - with the
team and on his own - to add any bulk he can.
"Trying to bulk him up is telling him to eat
everything he sees," Jensen said. "I always say, if it's
edible, eat it."
Despite hitting the ball only about 260 yards,
Medinis has lowered his scoring average by about
2.5 strokes this season, to 74.0, while recording
five top-10 finishes.
Medinis credits a strong showing in U.S. Open
qualifying last summer with reinforcing that he can
compete with longer hitters.
"It was a changed mindset, just playing how I
should play, not trying to play like a bomber," said
Medinis, who had been letting his lack of distance
affect his play. "If someone hit it longer, I would let
that bother me.
"The tournaments I've played well, I've not let my
emotions overpower my game. I won't let my game
get me mad or upset me or cause me to lose
strokes."
Relying instead on methodical precision and a
pretty strong short game to become FGCU's steadiest
player this season, Medinis has progressed this
year to the point where he feels comfortable
contemplating a professional career after college,
provided he continues adding bulk and distance.
"There's a lot more to the game than just powering it
out there, especially in college golf. You have to be
able to putt, and he can putt really well," Suttie said.
"He'll probably add 15-20 yards before he leaves
(college). It's just you mature and your swing gets
better and your workout program gets more
consistent."
East Tennessee State and North Florida will be the
heavy favorites in next week's A-Sun Championship.
But with Medinis part of a close-knit squad that
features several Southwest Florida products -
including junior Daniel Mazziotta of Cypress Lake
High School - the Eagles like their chances.
"The rankings may not show it, but I think our team
is really deep," Medinis said. "I think if we have a
good week, we can win."
Medinis this season
Fort Myers High graduate Alex Medinis has played
in every tournament for FGCU this season while
lowering his scoring average to 74.0 in his
sophomore season.
Date, event, scores, finish
Sept. 21-22: Jim Colbert Intercollegiate, 81-77, 37th
Oct. 2-4: Mission Inn Fall Intercollegiate, 74-76-75,
T23
Oct. 12-13: FGCU Eagle Invitational, 74-74-73, 7th
Oct. 19-20: Mizuno Savannah Intercollegiate, 74-
75-78, T52
Oct. 23-25: Bethune-Cookman Invitational, 73-66-
75, T2
Nov. 2-3: Stetson Invitational 71-70-71, 5th
Feb. 15-16: Rice Intercollegiate, 77-77-77, T22
March 8-9: Don Benbow Invitational, 75-74, T26
March 12-14: Mission Inn Spring Fling, 77-74, 9th
March 26-28: FAU Spring Break Championship, 70-
68-73, 7th
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