One of the first things Winthrop golf coach Kevin Pendley said to Mason Tucker, who was looking for a new school after two years at South Carolina, was "I know you can play and you won't have to prove yourself to anyone."

With those words it seemed like a heavy weight was lifted from the Lancaster (SC) High School product's shoulders.

But let's roll the story back a few years.

Tucker was a standout high school player, who won several region and state individual honors during his career that included multiple state and region honors and a state team title for the Bruins in 2018. He was runner-up individually that year.

On the junior amateur circuit, Tucker won the prestigious David Parrott Award in 2019 and 2021. That award, which is presented by the Carolinas Golf Association, goes to the junior golfer who displays excellence in sportsmanship and academics.

So now, it was time for Tucker to make his college decision.

"I had always wanted to be a Gamecock growing up," Masson said. "I played some pretty good golf my junior year so I reached out to Carolina Coach Bill McDonald."

At the same time, Mason was talking with Pendley, but the desire to get farther away from home and be a Gamecock was hard to resist.

"Carolina was my dream school," Mason said.

But things didn't work out like the lefthander had hoped.

"Just after I got there, I lost one of my best friends Caleb Henson, who I had grown up playing golf with."

Mason had always been the No. 1 or No. 2 on his teams, but now he was faced with trying to make the starting lineup on a squad that had three All-Americans.

"My mind was in a bad place and I had lost confidence," Mason said. "felt like I had to prove that I belonged. I talked with Coach McDonald and we decided I would redshirt my freshman season."

Mason worked on his mental and physical game over the summer and traveled back to Columbia.

"I went back for my sophomore year but no matter how I played I couldn't seem to get anywhere," Mason recalled. "After the fall season I decided to transfer."

Mason finished out his sophomore year at USC then started looking at another school. He soon reconnected with Pendley.

Pendley immediately knew what was ailing Mason.

"He had been putting too much pressure to perform," the former Winthrop player turned coach said. "He wasn't being himself. He felt like he had to impress everyone and show he belonged. That happens to a lot of freshmen.

"He just had to get that confidence back that I saw when we first recruited him."

And it wasn't long before Mason was playing up to his ability.

"I'm just more comfortable on the course now," Mason said. "I know I still have a lot of work to do."

Mason has been a mainstay for the Eagles in both the Fall and Spring seasons. He tied for first in the Wexford Intercollegiate in February and has been the Big South Conference golfer of the week three times.

Mason and the Eagles head into the upcoming BSC Tournament at Fripp Island, SC playing some of their best golf.

"I'll be shocked is (Mason) doesn't make All-Conference," the coach said. "And if he's not the conference newcomer of the year we need to look at the voting system."