Poole Freshman Balances NC State Golf Team and Business Administration Major

Spencer Oxendine started golfing at age 4 and hasn’t looked back since. He already feels at home on Lonnie Poole Golf Course, dipping in and out of the equipment room, trading quips with trainers and lugging clubs around.

Oxendine comes from a large family, part of an established Lumbee Indian community in Fayetteville. He relied on this support network during the stressful try-out and application period. “I had a lot of fun getting recruited, but I also had a lot of support. My whole family was cheering me on.”

While NC State was always on Oxendine’s radar, the deciding factor was the golf coach. Press McPhaul — now entering his third year at NC State and a Wolfpack golf alum himself — has had a stellar early run, leading the Pack to the NCAA Regionals twice in his first two seasons as head coach and advancing to the NCAA Championships once.

Prior to NC State, McPhaul spent 11 seasons at East Carolina University. When Oxendine met him early at a recruitment event in Greenville, that sealed the deal.

“You know immediately when you meet the right coach,” says Oxendine. “I decided, wherever he’s going, I’m going.” McPhaul moved to NC State, and Oxendine set his sights on Raleigh.

“I committed my junior year of high school. Coach Press called me and asked me to be part of the Wolfpack,” Oxendine says. “I was ecstatic. You never forget that phone call.”

Oxendine speaks so confidently about his choice to join the Wolfpack, it’s hard to imagine him anywhere else. A business administration major in the Poole College of Management, Oxendine will have to use his trademark drive to succeed on and off the golf course.

“I’ll be busy, no question,” he says. “Coach talks a lot about class time and golf time, so I’m just going to have to balance everything. But I know I can do it,” he says. “I’ve been waiting for this.”

This story was originally posted on NC State News.