Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Father-son bond has grown through golf
6/21/2020 12:01:00 PM | Men's Golf
Top flight amateur loves being a Blue Raider
Updated feature from the 2020 Raider Review
Two defining moments seemed to set Tanner Owens' amateur golf career in motion and both came by way of his dad, Mark Owens.
The first seemed innocent enough when, as a toddler, Tanner received a plastic golf set from his parents. It was meant as nothing more than a toy for a 3-year-old youngster but it led to much more.
No one could have imagined where that purchase would lead Tanner, who has embarked upon a top-flight amateur career on the links. It also had only strengthened the bond between father and son through the years.
The Natural
Even at that early age, the sweet-swinging southpaw appeared to be a natural with a club in his hands.
"No one would tell Tanner anything and he had the sweetest golf swing," recalls Mark, who is associate athletics director for communications at Middle Tennessee. "I never played a lot of golf or got lessons but people would comment about his swing and how natural it was.
"I remember asking (former Blue Raider golf coach) Johnny Moore what to do to aide Tanner with his golf as he got older. Coach Moore said to just let him go out and hit it as hard as he can."
The other defining moment took place some 14 years later during the summer prior to Tanner's junior year at Blackman High School in Murfreesboro.
This gesture was not nearly as nice or kind as the purchase of that plastic golf set that set Tanner's golf game in motion. In fact, it was just the opposite.
Although a solid golfer, Tanner was not getting the same notice from college coaches as some of his competitors.
Playing at the Southern Junior in Jackson, Miss., Tanner had just completed a round of 80. It wasn't one of his better days on the course but it was still good enough to beat the golfer he was playing against – an Ole Miss commit who fired an 85.
"After that round I asked my dad why I was not being recruited but he is. I know I played bad, but I still beat him," Tanner reflected. "My dad looked at me and said, word for word, 'You are not being recruited because your golf game sucks.'
"This coming from your coach would be enough to fire you up but coming from your dad? It put me in a different place mentally, and I proceeded to shoot somewhere like 11 straight rounds under par in tournaments and began being recruited by many schools.
"That is the moment that changed my golfing career."
During his three-plus years as a Blue Raider, Tanner has been part of two Conference USA Championships. He was undefeated in match play during his junior year to help lead the way to back-to-back titles.
Last fall, Tanner was dynamic as he posted rounds of par or better nine times in 11 outings while turning in five Top 10 finishes, including two top five efforts.
He was named All-C-USA this spring for the second year in a row and also received the prestigious Jim Casteneda scholarship awarded by the league office.
"I really don't think people know how good Tanner is," Middle Tennessee Head Golf Coach Mark McEntire said. "He had one bad tournament (in the fall) that has kept him from being ranked among the top players in college golf.
"Tanner has a tremendous work ethic. As a coach, you like to see a player improve every year. I believe that Tanner has done that and looks to be playing the best golf of his career heading into his final year."
Committed to His Shot
Tanner is ultra-competitive and driven to succeed.
Though golf is considered a 'polite' pursuit, the game inspires competitive vigor in Tanner.
That drive has led him to be ranked amongst the best to have ever played at Middle Tennessee.
"I have never seen anyone that does not like to lose more than Tanner," McEntire said. "I feel that he gets down on himself sometimes too quick if he does not have success early but that is just his competitive nature. He does a very nice job of asking questions in practice rounds and after each round on the holes that he does not feel comfortable. I wish more of our players would watch and take note of that."
That competitive nature is not reserved for the golf course. Tanner also sports a 3.9 grade point average and recently graduated with a degree in Healthcare Administration. He is as proud of his academic achievement as his golf success. Owens was awarded the department's highest honor at the Raiders Choice Awards this spring when he was named co-True Blue President's Award winner, signifying excellence in academics, athletics and community service.
"Academics have always been a top priority since I was young," Tanner said. "My parents always stressed to me that school is more important than athletics, and I have tried to implement that all through my schooling."
McEntire says Tanner's academic drive equals that of his golf swing.
"He is as good off the course as he is in the classroom with a 4.0 GPA," McEntire said. "He works hard in the classroom and takes that seriously. If we can have every player come through this program during my tenure here at MTSU and improve, mature, and handle school the way Tanner does, we will become one of the elite programs in college golf."
Work ethic and a willingness to adapt to change when necessary are also hallmarks of Owens' overall success, particularly on the course.
"I don't know of a day that goes by when Tanner is not on a course doing something. He is willing to put in that effort," said Rob McGill, Tanner's swing coach. "One of the things he does really well is he allows himself the ability to make change when it needs to be made, and he works very hard to make that change happen. A lot of guys in that situation are resistant to change because they know what looks good and feels good to them. He has the ability to make the change when he needs it.
"The good thing is Tanner hasn't had to make many changes the last few years because he works so hard that he is consistent at what he does. He has a lot of really good things going right now. His golf swing is in a good spot."
His dad, Mark, says Tanner's drive to compete at the highest level always has been paramount.
"To his fault sometimes, Tanner is a perfectionist," Mark said. "Tanner wants to excel at all times. He is driven. He gets out of bed every day wanting to improve. It has always been that way as Tanner is a very, very, very competitive person."
The competitiveness was revealed from an early age.
When Tanner was 9-years-old, his dad entered him in his first tournament – a 9-hole event in Chattanooga.
"He performed admirably right out of the gate," Mark said. "It was his first tournament. He never saw the course. He was the first player to tee off and on his first hole he striped it down the middle. He birdies his first hole and goes on to win the tournament. From that moment, you almost knew he had something special."
Tanner believed so as well. While also a solid basketball and baseball player, Tanner opted to put his efforts into golf after that one afternoon in Chattanooga.
"After I played in my first golf tournament and won, I knew I could compete, and I enjoyed playing the game so I converted all of my time to being great at golf," he said.
It was a decision Tanner would not regret.
The youngster also was attracted to the accountability that comes with competition in golf.
"The one thing that attracted me to golf was the individualism of the sport," Tanner said. "Everything I do in the game rests on my shoulders, which is a big reason I began playing. I am almost too competitive. Golf is great because whether I shoot 85 or 65, the only one to blame is me."
Golf also has taught valuable life skills, such as discipline. Though it applies to golf in this sense, Tanner believes it will be a respected quality for years to come.
"Staying disciplined to the process is the hardest part of the game," Tanner said. "No matter if you are making birdies or bogeys, you have to stick to your certain process. A change in this process can throw off your tempo, attitude, or confidence and lead to poor shots.
"Golf is one of the toughest sports in the world when it comes to mental focus. You have to pay attention to so many details and one lapse can cost you a tournament."
Tanner aspires to play at the top of his game on a consistent basis. His performances at the national level of his amateur career suggests he already does.
Tanner has played in the U.S. Amateur, the U.S. Junior Amateur, and the PGA Junior Championship. He was scheduled to compete in the U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Tournament this past May but it was canceled due to COVID-19.
The summer of 2014 saw Tanner enjoy one of the most prolific summers of any young golfer as he won the prestigious Future Masters in Dothan, Ala., to become only the second Tennessean in the first 65 years of the tournament to win the event. He also qualified for and advanced to match play at the U.S. Junior Amateur where he defeated the No. 1 ranked junior in the world, Austin Connelly. He was a medalist at the 2014 Tennessee PGA Junior qualifier and advanced to the National PGA Junior.
"That summer was one of the most incredible summers you could have as an amateur golfer," McGill said. "For the first time, you could see Tanner buying into the process and not worrying as much about the end result but how the process got you to the end result. What became important was the next shot and only the next shot, not just winning the tournament. Now, he was rolling."
By the end of the summer of 2014, Tanner Owens was ranked the No. 1 player in the 2016 Class for Tennessee and fourth overall in the state.
College coaches took note.
A Tale of Two Cities
Though it seemed Tanner had choices to make as several schools came calling, he already had narrowed his decision to two – Middle Tennessee or Virginia Tech, which happened to be the alma mater of his dad and his mother, Jane.
"While I took a few visits, my recruiting process was a little bit different because I knew the only two places that I wanted to go were Middle Tennessee or Virginia Tech and there was no other option," Tanner said. "After taking my unofficial visit to Virginia Tech and finding out my golf offer, I got back home and wrote a note that I put under my bed. It read, 'Virginia Tech, no matter what.' I wanted to follow in my parents' footsteps and the recruiting process pretty much ended at that moment."
Though his mind was set, Tanner says the decision was still one of the toughest he's ever made.
"This was one of the hardest decisions of my life given the support system I already had at MTSU," Owens said. "Whit Turnbow was the coach at the time and he was a big reason for jump starting my golf career. The decision was extremely difficult and took a lot of thought."
It was also tough for Mark; but the fact his son was going to be attending his alma mater eased the pain of Tanner leaving home for the first time.
"Virginia Tech is where I went to school and my dad went to school so when they came calling it was very special," Mark said. "When Tanner committed, I burst into tears. It was a dream come true to have my son be a student-athlete at the school where I graduated."
As exciting as the situation was, it didn't last.
At some point during his freshman year at Virginia Tech, Tanner made the tough decision to return home and transfer to Middle Tennessee.
"There are a few reasons that were part of me being a somewhat dumb young adult that aided in me coming back but, overall, it was a comfort thing," Tanner said. "I had friends here. I knew the courses. The campus and all of those things played a role. I loved Virginia Tech and always will, but MTSU was the best place for my golf career to achieve the highest possible level.
"It was a very tough decision but, in the end, God always has a plan and this one was best for me."
Being able to share experiences closer to home has created a special opportunity for father and son. It is one both relishes.
"Having my dad here has been a blessing that many people do not have the luxury of getting in college," Tanner said. "Anytime I have a question, need help on campus, want to say hi, or whatever the case may be, he is always there.
"Growing up around MTSU, I know a lot of the administration. This makes me want to perform even more to not let my dad or the people around him down, as well as the University. I struggled with this when I first got to campus but have since grown into my own and started focusing more on my goals and let the rest fall into place."
Mark calls the situation "priceless."
"I definitely think it is something that is unique," Mark said. "Never in my wildest dreams would I have ever imagined having my son so close and playing the sport he loves at the same time. It's not just having the chance to watch him play but sometimes you are at the office and he may just pop in after a workout or class. Not everyone has that opportunity. It's been awesome and this is something I will never forget."
It seems Mark has been associated with many defining moments in Tanner's blossoming career that began with a plastic golf set many years ago. No doubt, the bond between the two has only strengthened during Tanner's maturation into a top-flight amateur golfer.
Two defining moments seemed to set Tanner Owens' amateur golf career in motion and both came by way of his dad, Mark Owens.
The first seemed innocent enough when, as a toddler, Tanner received a plastic golf set from his parents. It was meant as nothing more than a toy for a 3-year-old youngster but it led to much more.
No one could have imagined where that purchase would lead Tanner, who has embarked upon a top-flight amateur career on the links. It also had only strengthened the bond between father and son through the years.
The Natural
Even at that early age, the sweet-swinging southpaw appeared to be a natural with a club in his hands.
"No one would tell Tanner anything and he had the sweetest golf swing," recalls Mark, who is associate athletics director for communications at Middle Tennessee. "I never played a lot of golf or got lessons but people would comment about his swing and how natural it was.
"I remember asking (former Blue Raider golf coach) Johnny Moore what to do to aide Tanner with his golf as he got older. Coach Moore said to just let him go out and hit it as hard as he can."
The other defining moment took place some 14 years later during the summer prior to Tanner's junior year at Blackman High School in Murfreesboro.
This gesture was not nearly as nice or kind as the purchase of that plastic golf set that set Tanner's golf game in motion. In fact, it was just the opposite.
Although a solid golfer, Tanner was not getting the same notice from college coaches as some of his competitors.
Playing at the Southern Junior in Jackson, Miss., Tanner had just completed a round of 80. It wasn't one of his better days on the course but it was still good enough to beat the golfer he was playing against – an Ole Miss commit who fired an 85.
"After that round I asked my dad why I was not being recruited but he is. I know I played bad, but I still beat him," Tanner reflected. "My dad looked at me and said, word for word, 'You are not being recruited because your golf game sucks.'
"This coming from your coach would be enough to fire you up but coming from your dad? It put me in a different place mentally, and I proceeded to shoot somewhere like 11 straight rounds under par in tournaments and began being recruited by many schools.
"That is the moment that changed my golfing career."
During his three-plus years as a Blue Raider, Tanner has been part of two Conference USA Championships. He was undefeated in match play during his junior year to help lead the way to back-to-back titles.
Last fall, Tanner was dynamic as he posted rounds of par or better nine times in 11 outings while turning in five Top 10 finishes, including two top five efforts.
He was named All-C-USA this spring for the second year in a row and also received the prestigious Jim Casteneda scholarship awarded by the league office.
"I really don't think people know how good Tanner is," Middle Tennessee Head Golf Coach Mark McEntire said. "He had one bad tournament (in the fall) that has kept him from being ranked among the top players in college golf.
"Tanner has a tremendous work ethic. As a coach, you like to see a player improve every year. I believe that Tanner has done that and looks to be playing the best golf of his career heading into his final year."
Committed to His Shot
Tanner is ultra-competitive and driven to succeed.
Though golf is considered a 'polite' pursuit, the game inspires competitive vigor in Tanner.
That drive has led him to be ranked amongst the best to have ever played at Middle Tennessee.
"I have never seen anyone that does not like to lose more than Tanner," McEntire said. "I feel that he gets down on himself sometimes too quick if he does not have success early but that is just his competitive nature. He does a very nice job of asking questions in practice rounds and after each round on the holes that he does not feel comfortable. I wish more of our players would watch and take note of that."
That competitive nature is not reserved for the golf course. Tanner also sports a 3.9 grade point average and recently graduated with a degree in Healthcare Administration. He is as proud of his academic achievement as his golf success. Owens was awarded the department's highest honor at the Raiders Choice Awards this spring when he was named co-True Blue President's Award winner, signifying excellence in academics, athletics and community service.
"Academics have always been a top priority since I was young," Tanner said. "My parents always stressed to me that school is more important than athletics, and I have tried to implement that all through my schooling."
McEntire says Tanner's academic drive equals that of his golf swing.
"He is as good off the course as he is in the classroom with a 4.0 GPA," McEntire said. "He works hard in the classroom and takes that seriously. If we can have every player come through this program during my tenure here at MTSU and improve, mature, and handle school the way Tanner does, we will become one of the elite programs in college golf."
Work ethic and a willingness to adapt to change when necessary are also hallmarks of Owens' overall success, particularly on the course.
"I don't know of a day that goes by when Tanner is not on a course doing something. He is willing to put in that effort," said Rob McGill, Tanner's swing coach. "One of the things he does really well is he allows himself the ability to make change when it needs to be made, and he works very hard to make that change happen. A lot of guys in that situation are resistant to change because they know what looks good and feels good to them. He has the ability to make the change when he needs it.
"The good thing is Tanner hasn't had to make many changes the last few years because he works so hard that he is consistent at what he does. He has a lot of really good things going right now. His golf swing is in a good spot."
His dad, Mark, says Tanner's drive to compete at the highest level always has been paramount.
"To his fault sometimes, Tanner is a perfectionist," Mark said. "Tanner wants to excel at all times. He is driven. He gets out of bed every day wanting to improve. It has always been that way as Tanner is a very, very, very competitive person."
The competitiveness was revealed from an early age.
When Tanner was 9-years-old, his dad entered him in his first tournament – a 9-hole event in Chattanooga.
"He performed admirably right out of the gate," Mark said. "It was his first tournament. He never saw the course. He was the first player to tee off and on his first hole he striped it down the middle. He birdies his first hole and goes on to win the tournament. From that moment, you almost knew he had something special."
Tanner believed so as well. While also a solid basketball and baseball player, Tanner opted to put his efforts into golf after that one afternoon in Chattanooga.
"After I played in my first golf tournament and won, I knew I could compete, and I enjoyed playing the game so I converted all of my time to being great at golf," he said.
It was a decision Tanner would not regret.
The youngster also was attracted to the accountability that comes with competition in golf.
"The one thing that attracted me to golf was the individualism of the sport," Tanner said. "Everything I do in the game rests on my shoulders, which is a big reason I began playing. I am almost too competitive. Golf is great because whether I shoot 85 or 65, the only one to blame is me."
Golf also has taught valuable life skills, such as discipline. Though it applies to golf in this sense, Tanner believes it will be a respected quality for years to come.
"Staying disciplined to the process is the hardest part of the game," Tanner said. "No matter if you are making birdies or bogeys, you have to stick to your certain process. A change in this process can throw off your tempo, attitude, or confidence and lead to poor shots.
"Golf is one of the toughest sports in the world when it comes to mental focus. You have to pay attention to so many details and one lapse can cost you a tournament."
Tanner aspires to play at the top of his game on a consistent basis. His performances at the national level of his amateur career suggests he already does.
Tanner has played in the U.S. Amateur, the U.S. Junior Amateur, and the PGA Junior Championship. He was scheduled to compete in the U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Tournament this past May but it was canceled due to COVID-19.
The summer of 2014 saw Tanner enjoy one of the most prolific summers of any young golfer as he won the prestigious Future Masters in Dothan, Ala., to become only the second Tennessean in the first 65 years of the tournament to win the event. He also qualified for and advanced to match play at the U.S. Junior Amateur where he defeated the No. 1 ranked junior in the world, Austin Connelly. He was a medalist at the 2014 Tennessee PGA Junior qualifier and advanced to the National PGA Junior.
"That summer was one of the most incredible summers you could have as an amateur golfer," McGill said. "For the first time, you could see Tanner buying into the process and not worrying as much about the end result but how the process got you to the end result. What became important was the next shot and only the next shot, not just winning the tournament. Now, he was rolling."
By the end of the summer of 2014, Tanner Owens was ranked the No. 1 player in the 2016 Class for Tennessee and fourth overall in the state.
College coaches took note.
A Tale of Two Cities
Though it seemed Tanner had choices to make as several schools came calling, he already had narrowed his decision to two – Middle Tennessee or Virginia Tech, which happened to be the alma mater of his dad and his mother, Jane.
"While I took a few visits, my recruiting process was a little bit different because I knew the only two places that I wanted to go were Middle Tennessee or Virginia Tech and there was no other option," Tanner said. "After taking my unofficial visit to Virginia Tech and finding out my golf offer, I got back home and wrote a note that I put under my bed. It read, 'Virginia Tech, no matter what.' I wanted to follow in my parents' footsteps and the recruiting process pretty much ended at that moment."
Though his mind was set, Tanner says the decision was still one of the toughest he's ever made.
"This was one of the hardest decisions of my life given the support system I already had at MTSU," Owens said. "Whit Turnbow was the coach at the time and he was a big reason for jump starting my golf career. The decision was extremely difficult and took a lot of thought."
It was also tough for Mark; but the fact his son was going to be attending his alma mater eased the pain of Tanner leaving home for the first time.
"Virginia Tech is where I went to school and my dad went to school so when they came calling it was very special," Mark said. "When Tanner committed, I burst into tears. It was a dream come true to have my son be a student-athlete at the school where I graduated."
As exciting as the situation was, it didn't last.
At some point during his freshman year at Virginia Tech, Tanner made the tough decision to return home and transfer to Middle Tennessee.
"There are a few reasons that were part of me being a somewhat dumb young adult that aided in me coming back but, overall, it was a comfort thing," Tanner said. "I had friends here. I knew the courses. The campus and all of those things played a role. I loved Virginia Tech and always will, but MTSU was the best place for my golf career to achieve the highest possible level.
"It was a very tough decision but, in the end, God always has a plan and this one was best for me."
Being able to share experiences closer to home has created a special opportunity for father and son. It is one both relishes.
"Having my dad here has been a blessing that many people do not have the luxury of getting in college," Tanner said. "Anytime I have a question, need help on campus, want to say hi, or whatever the case may be, he is always there.
"Growing up around MTSU, I know a lot of the administration. This makes me want to perform even more to not let my dad or the people around him down, as well as the University. I struggled with this when I first got to campus but have since grown into my own and started focusing more on my goals and let the rest fall into place."
Mark calls the situation "priceless."
"I definitely think it is something that is unique," Mark said. "Never in my wildest dreams would I have ever imagined having my son so close and playing the sport he loves at the same time. It's not just having the chance to watch him play but sometimes you are at the office and he may just pop in after a workout or class. Not everyone has that opportunity. It's been awesome and this is something I will never forget."
It seems Mark has been associated with many defining moments in Tanner's blossoming career that began with a plastic golf set many years ago. No doubt, the bond between the two has only strengthened during Tanner's maturation into a top-flight amateur golfer.
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