When Winthrop's Willis Rogers heads to the first tee of a golf tournament he doesn't think about hooking his first drive out of bounds, topping a metal fairway wood of a reachable par 5, shanking a chip shot, four putting a green, or jotting down a double-digit score on a hole.

Those things never cross his mind, because if you play golf long enough that's going to happen. But the grad-student from Charleston, who has dealt with Type 1 Diabetes since childhood, does have one fear.

"If my blood sugar gets low it sets off a loud alarm on my insulin pump and glucose monitor," Willis explained. "I'm used to it and if it happens it's no big deal. But it could bother someone's swing and I'd hate for that to happen.
"Fortunately it hasn't happened in tournament play, but that is a big worry I have."

Willis has dealt with Type 1 Diabetes for some time now, but it hasn't kept him from doing the things he loves, especially competing in sports.

"I was 10 years old and we were on a three week family vacation to Europe," Willis recalled. "When we were in Switzerland we noticed something was a little off. I was super dehydrated and always using the bathroom."  

Everyone checked it off as being in a different country.  

"We didn't think too much about it," he said. "I was eating whatever I wanted, drinking anything I wanted. Didn't have a care in the world."

But during the last half of the trip things changed drastically. Everyone knew something wasn't right, especially after they arrived in Rome.

"I was constantly drinking out of fountains that weren't meant to be drank out of," Willis said. "So when we got back to Charleston, my mom called my pediatrician and he immediately knew what was wrong."

Willis spent three days in the hospital where the staff taught him and his parents how to deal with daily insulin shots, a new diet and how to live as normal a life as possible with Type 1 Diabetes. He started with injections, then moved on the insulin pen and finally about five or six years ago his first pump.

About a year and a half ago, a new and improved pump came on the market that allows his insulin pump and glucose monitor to communicate with each other so the pump can either add some insulin or cut off a dose.

"That's been super helpful because I can really eat whatever I want in moderation," he said. "I've never been much of a sweets guy but I will eat a piece of candy now and then.

Doctors have told Willis that playing golf has also helped him deal with the situation.

"I stay so active with all the walking and the exercise I get playing golf has been a big help." he said.

Willis said he always keeps snacks in his bag just in case his sugar drops and he needs a quick boost of sugar.

Willis grew up on a golf course but never really played the game until his freshman year of high school. Instead he was a standout in multiple sports including football, basketball, lacrosse and swimming.

"For some reason I fell in love with the game and started playing in junior tournaments," he said. "I was a little behind the eight ball because the kids I was playing against grew up playing junior golf.

Still he did okay, finishing in a tie for ninth at the Beth Daniel Junior Azalea in 2018, and tied for 10^th in the Festival of Flowers 2019. Willis also earned all-state honors is sophomore year at Porter Gaud High School.

Willis, a strapping 6-3, 200 pounder, played football until his sophomore year when he quit to concentrate on golf. But he got the itch again during his junior year and contacted Winthrop coach Kevin Pendley to ask permission.

"You know you worry about injury, but Kevin was fine with it. " Willis said. "He told me if I wanted to play go for it. But, wouldn't you know it. During spring practice before my senior year I broke my collar bone. I was devastated but luckily I was able to play my senior year.

Willis and the rest of the golf team lost the 2020 season because of COVID. He competed in three events his sophomore year with a low round of 74s in two tournaments. Willis played in seven events his senior year with a career low round of 68 in the final round of the Grandover Collegiate.

Now he's working hard preparing for his last season which begins on Feb. 19 at the Wexford intercollegiate in Hilton Head. This spring's schedule will for all intent and purposes be his last hurrah at tournament golf. Then he'll start using his finance degree in the world of business. And maybe, just maybe, there'll be a worry in the back of his mind that the alarms might go off during a meeting.