Accomplished Abrams seeks strong finish in final year at Lehigh
4/23/2015 7:15:00 PM | Men's Golf, Features
By Alex Buford '15, Lehigh Sports Media Relations
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Growing up, every athlete has the person that they look up to tell them that talent isn't enough, that talent must be paired with hard work to achieve excellence. The saying goes: "hard work beats talent, when talent doesn't work hard."
Â
Harley Abrams, a junior on the men's golf team, is living proof of that prophecy. Abrams has turned himself into one of the leaders of the Lehigh program thanks to his commitment to the game of golf.
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For Abrams, that commitment comes second nature. As a four year old, he was introduced to golf by his older brother and became enamored with the game by middle school. Abrams' obvious love for the game of golf is what drives him to continue to improve each and every day.
Â
Abrams became a sponge and looked to learn all that he could about golf. He bought three instructional books on the game: one by Tom Watson, which covered a player's short game, one by Jack Nicklaus; which was geared toward a player's swing; and one by Tiger Woods, which talked about how modern players compete and prepare.
Â
"Those books gave me a really well-rounded look at the game of golf," Abrams said. "I used to bring them to school and read them whenever I had any down time. That's when I really became a student of the game."
Â
Abrams has continued his diligence into his college years. The slight, curly haired Abrams is almost always the last person to leave the Mulvihill Golf Learning Center, a place that he will miss dearly, he says, and is always encouraging his teammates to hit some extra balls with him after formal golf practice has ended.
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"I've been coaching golf nine years and Harley puts the most time into the game of any player that I have ever coached," said Lehigh head coach Henry D'Alberto '97 "He will hit balls into the dark at night at the driving range and work on his short game inside as well. He is always continuing to work and get better."
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During the summer, Abrams spends his time in North Carolina, which he uses as his home base for traveling and tournaments. Abrams is constantly competing in the summer and says that the constant traveling and competing, while exhaustive, is the only thing he would like to be doing with his summer days. A Boca Raton, Fla. native, Abrams' time in North Carolina also allows him to maintain his Southern twang.
Â
So far in his career, Abrams' hard work has paid off. Abrams earned first team All-Patriot League honors as a freshman and followed that up with second team honors as a sophomore. Abrams is one of Lehigh's most consistent players; a guy who everyone knows is going to give he and the team a chance.
Â
"Harley is a great striker of the ball, he always makes good contact and also has great wedge play," said classmate Dave Olexson. "His temperament on the golf course is also impressive."
Â
Fellow captain Carlos Kim shared a similar sentiment to Olexson when it comes to Abrams' temper and levelheadedness on the course.
Â
"If Harley hits a bad shot, you would never be able to tell," Kim said. "When he plays well he never gets too excited and when he isn't he is still very calm. He is very neutral out there, no matter what."
Â
Even though he is just a junior, Abrams was named a team captain alongside Kim.
Â
Being a captain as a junior isn't the only thing that makes him unique, however. As a result of his AP classes in high school, Abrams entered Lehigh with a full semester of college under his belt and will be graduating a full year early this May with members of Lehigh's class of 2015.
Â
Abrams, a political science major with a minor in business, will be walking across the stage in Goodman Stadium with students that are one year his senior, but Abrams has maturity beyond his years and it seems fitting that he will be graduating early.
Â
Per NCAA rules, Abrams has the option to transfer to another Division I golf program without having to sit out a year. As a result of this reality, Abrams was faced with a difficult decision: return to Lehigh for graduate school, or transfer and use his final year of eligibility elsewhere. Abrams chose the latter.
Â
Pending tentative acceptance, Abrams will be attending Northwestern next fall to get a master's degree in sports administration. Northwestern's golf program has finished in the top five at the NCAA Championships twice over the last 15 years.
Â
"I was looking for a place where I could combine golf and sports administration, a place where I could get a great golf experience and get a degree that was worthwhile in that field," Abrams said. "Unfortunately, there wasn't a graduate program here (at Lehigh) that I felt would suit me."
Â
Abrams' father had been involved in financing sports stadiums, and that side of the business piqued Abrams' interest. Getting an inside look at how stadiums were managed and constructed, as well as his general love for sports, is what brought him to pursue a sports administration program, Abrams said.
Â
"Sports is one of the only things that can bring people together and to be a part of that kind of environment for a career would be really rewarding," Abrams said. "But ultimately, I would like to work in the golf industry."
Â
Northwestern, which competes in the Big Ten, will offer Abrams the opportunity to compete at a higher level of golf than at Lehigh. It will be a big jump in talent compared to the Patriot League, but D'Alberto expects Abrams to compete from the moment he steps on campus.
Â
"Harley is a competitor, so we know he will compete hard," D'Alberto said. "But I think if he continues to work hard and improve he will start on the team and could help them win some tournaments next year."
Â
Off the course, Abrams is known on the team as someone who always does the right thing. Abrams sets a good example for his teammates and takes pride in the work that he does to prepare himself and his body for competition. Abrams is strict with his diet and, according to Kim, operates on a routine.
"Harley is one of those people who always does the right thing and is just a great kid," Kim said. "Even though he devotes a lot of time to golf he is a funny guy and we all are just trying to enjoy the last couple of weeks that we have left with him. We understand the path that he is trying to take in his life and we all support him."
Â
Olexson, a golf walk-on who lived in the B side of Richards House as a freshman while Abrams was across the way in the A side, has been able to build a friendship with Abrams over the last three years at Lehigh.
Â
"We got to know each other living in the same dorm, but it really ballooned into a friendship through golf," he said. "Harley is a guy that I want to be around for life and it bums me out that we won't be able to lead the team together next year."
Â
In his freshman year, Abrams helped the Mountain hawks to a Patriot League Championship on their home course at Saucon Valley Country Club. Abrams tied for fourth place to earn first team All-Patriot League honors. The Mountain Hawks earned an automatic berth to NCAA Regionals and eagerly waited to hear their destination as the team rented out a video room in Lehigh's Fairmart Martindale Library to watch the selection show unfold.
Â
Prior to the show, the team had been hoping that they would be placed in the NCAA Tempe regional at Arizona State. Just minutes later, the Mountain Hawks learned that they were headed to Arizona State University to compete in the regionals, and the team was sent into a frenzy.
Â
"We honestly forgot it was a library," Abrams said with an ebullient laugh. "The team was going nuts and one of the guys working the desk opened the door and told us to calm down. That was probably the coolest moment that I've had in my Lehigh career, it's something that will stick with me forever."
Â
For all that Abrams has achieved, both on the course and off, one thing is missing: an individual tournament championship. With his early departure, the hourglass is emptying quickly and achieving that would complete what has already been an immensely successful career. Abrams has been a model of consistency and has a number of top five finishes under his belt, including a second place finish at this season's Lafayette Invitational.
Â
Abrams will have his final chance to win a tournament as a Lehigh golfer at this weekend's Patriot League Tournament at Colgate University, a course that Abrams very much enjoys. Â There, Abrams and the Mountain Hawks will be seeking their second league championship in three years.
Â
"Harley's been knocking on the door for a while now, so it would be really nice to get him or another senior on top this weekend," D'Alberto said.
Whether the Patriot League Championship goes well or not, you wouldn't be able to tell on the course. Abrams' poker face will remain intact, and he'll be bringing that, along with his relentless work ethic and consistent play, with him to graduate school next year.
Â
Â
Growing up, every athlete has the person that they look up to tell them that talent isn't enough, that talent must be paired with hard work to achieve excellence. The saying goes: "hard work beats talent, when talent doesn't work hard."
Â
Harley Abrams, a junior on the men's golf team, is living proof of that prophecy. Abrams has turned himself into one of the leaders of the Lehigh program thanks to his commitment to the game of golf.
Â
For Abrams, that commitment comes second nature. As a four year old, he was introduced to golf by his older brother and became enamored with the game by middle school. Abrams' obvious love for the game of golf is what drives him to continue to improve each and every day.
Â
Abrams became a sponge and looked to learn all that he could about golf. He bought three instructional books on the game: one by Tom Watson, which covered a player's short game, one by Jack Nicklaus; which was geared toward a player's swing; and one by Tiger Woods, which talked about how modern players compete and prepare.
Â
"Those books gave me a really well-rounded look at the game of golf," Abrams said. "I used to bring them to school and read them whenever I had any down time. That's when I really became a student of the game."
Â
Abrams has continued his diligence into his college years. The slight, curly haired Abrams is almost always the last person to leave the Mulvihill Golf Learning Center, a place that he will miss dearly, he says, and is always encouraging his teammates to hit some extra balls with him after formal golf practice has ended.
Â
"I've been coaching golf nine years and Harley puts the most time into the game of any player that I have ever coached," said Lehigh head coach Henry D'Alberto '97 "He will hit balls into the dark at night at the driving range and work on his short game inside as well. He is always continuing to work and get better."
Â
During the summer, Abrams spends his time in North Carolina, which he uses as his home base for traveling and tournaments. Abrams is constantly competing in the summer and says that the constant traveling and competing, while exhaustive, is the only thing he would like to be doing with his summer days. A Boca Raton, Fla. native, Abrams' time in North Carolina also allows him to maintain his Southern twang.
Â
So far in his career, Abrams' hard work has paid off. Abrams earned first team All-Patriot League honors as a freshman and followed that up with second team honors as a sophomore. Abrams is one of Lehigh's most consistent players; a guy who everyone knows is going to give he and the team a chance.
Â
"Harley is a great striker of the ball, he always makes good contact and also has great wedge play," said classmate Dave Olexson. "His temperament on the golf course is also impressive."
Â
Fellow captain Carlos Kim shared a similar sentiment to Olexson when it comes to Abrams' temper and levelheadedness on the course.
Â
"If Harley hits a bad shot, you would never be able to tell," Kim said. "When he plays well he never gets too excited and when he isn't he is still very calm. He is very neutral out there, no matter what."
Â
Even though he is just a junior, Abrams was named a team captain alongside Kim.
Â
Being a captain as a junior isn't the only thing that makes him unique, however. As a result of his AP classes in high school, Abrams entered Lehigh with a full semester of college under his belt and will be graduating a full year early this May with members of Lehigh's class of 2015.
Â
Abrams, a political science major with a minor in business, will be walking across the stage in Goodman Stadium with students that are one year his senior, but Abrams has maturity beyond his years and it seems fitting that he will be graduating early.
Â
Per NCAA rules, Abrams has the option to transfer to another Division I golf program without having to sit out a year. As a result of this reality, Abrams was faced with a difficult decision: return to Lehigh for graduate school, or transfer and use his final year of eligibility elsewhere. Abrams chose the latter.
Â
Pending tentative acceptance, Abrams will be attending Northwestern next fall to get a master's degree in sports administration. Northwestern's golf program has finished in the top five at the NCAA Championships twice over the last 15 years.
Â
"I was looking for a place where I could combine golf and sports administration, a place where I could get a great golf experience and get a degree that was worthwhile in that field," Abrams said. "Unfortunately, there wasn't a graduate program here (at Lehigh) that I felt would suit me."
Â
Abrams' father had been involved in financing sports stadiums, and that side of the business piqued Abrams' interest. Getting an inside look at how stadiums were managed and constructed, as well as his general love for sports, is what brought him to pursue a sports administration program, Abrams said.
Â
"Sports is one of the only things that can bring people together and to be a part of that kind of environment for a career would be really rewarding," Abrams said. "But ultimately, I would like to work in the golf industry."
Â
Northwestern, which competes in the Big Ten, will offer Abrams the opportunity to compete at a higher level of golf than at Lehigh. It will be a big jump in talent compared to the Patriot League, but D'Alberto expects Abrams to compete from the moment he steps on campus.
Â
"Harley is a competitor, so we know he will compete hard," D'Alberto said. "But I think if he continues to work hard and improve he will start on the team and could help them win some tournaments next year."
Â
Off the course, Abrams is known on the team as someone who always does the right thing. Abrams sets a good example for his teammates and takes pride in the work that he does to prepare himself and his body for competition. Abrams is strict with his diet and, according to Kim, operates on a routine.
"Harley is one of those people who always does the right thing and is just a great kid," Kim said. "Even though he devotes a lot of time to golf he is a funny guy and we all are just trying to enjoy the last couple of weeks that we have left with him. We understand the path that he is trying to take in his life and we all support him."
Â
Olexson, a golf walk-on who lived in the B side of Richards House as a freshman while Abrams was across the way in the A side, has been able to build a friendship with Abrams over the last three years at Lehigh.
Â
"We got to know each other living in the same dorm, but it really ballooned into a friendship through golf," he said. "Harley is a guy that I want to be around for life and it bums me out that we won't be able to lead the team together next year."
Â
In his freshman year, Abrams helped the Mountain hawks to a Patriot League Championship on their home course at Saucon Valley Country Club. Abrams tied for fourth place to earn first team All-Patriot League honors. The Mountain Hawks earned an automatic berth to NCAA Regionals and eagerly waited to hear their destination as the team rented out a video room in Lehigh's Fairmart Martindale Library to watch the selection show unfold.
Â
Prior to the show, the team had been hoping that they would be placed in the NCAA Tempe regional at Arizona State. Just minutes later, the Mountain Hawks learned that they were headed to Arizona State University to compete in the regionals, and the team was sent into a frenzy.
Â
"We honestly forgot it was a library," Abrams said with an ebullient laugh. "The team was going nuts and one of the guys working the desk opened the door and told us to calm down. That was probably the coolest moment that I've had in my Lehigh career, it's something that will stick with me forever."
Â
For all that Abrams has achieved, both on the course and off, one thing is missing: an individual tournament championship. With his early departure, the hourglass is emptying quickly and achieving that would complete what has already been an immensely successful career. Abrams has been a model of consistency and has a number of top five finishes under his belt, including a second place finish at this season's Lafayette Invitational.
Â
Abrams will have his final chance to win a tournament as a Lehigh golfer at this weekend's Patriot League Tournament at Colgate University, a course that Abrams very much enjoys. Â There, Abrams and the Mountain Hawks will be seeking their second league championship in three years.
Â
"Harley's been knocking on the door for a while now, so it would be really nice to get him or another senior on top this weekend," D'Alberto said.
Whether the Patriot League Championship goes well or not, you wouldn't be able to tell on the course. Abrams' poker face will remain intact, and he'll be bringing that, along with his relentless work ethic and consistent play, with him to graduate school next year.
Â
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