Alabama Men’s Golf Coach Jay Seawell Reacts to Justin Thomas’ US Open Performance [Audio]

The most recent decade of Alabama men’s golf has seen the program rise to unprecedented heights. Under the direction of head coach Jay Seawell, the Crimson Tide has won two national championships, four SEC titles and has finished in the top 10 nationally six times.

Over the weekend, two of Jay Seawell’s former pupils finished in the top 10 of the 2017 US Open at Erin Hills in Erin, Wisconsin. Justin Thomas and Trey Mullinax finished tied for ninth at eight under par.

During Monday’s edition of The Blitz with Martin Houston, Jay Seawell reacted to the events at the US Open and described his emotions of Thomas being in contention to win the tournament at the beginning of the final round.

“I was almost as nervous as anytime at my job. Justin (Thomas) in the last group of the day at the US Open which is a really big deal. I know it didn’t go the way he wished yesterday but I was really proud of them.” Seawell said.

Although Thomas set a US Open record with a 63 in Saturday’s third round, he struggled to a three over par 75 in Sunday’s final round. Alabama’s men’s golf coach offered his thoughts of how Thomas handled Saturday’s success and Sunday’s disappointing finish.

“Yesterday was a good point of how Justin (Thomas) handled it. I was really proud of his 63 on Saturday but I was just as proud of how he handled yesterday’s 75 which was very disappointing to him.” Seawell said.

Seawell also touched on Trey Mullinax’s strong finish on Sunday that vaulted him into the top 10.

“It was unbelievable, and I’m so proud of Trey (Mullinax). “Seawell said. “Here he is a guy from Gardendale who is maybe not as polished as some who came, who is one of the most athletic people I have ever coached or ever seen play the game, and he’s in the infant stages of really becoming a star if he continues to believe.”

While Seawell has recruited golfers such as Thomas and Mulinax to build and sustain one of college golf’s top programs, Alabama’s head coach described a key intangible he looks for in future prospects.

“Golf is such a game of character, and you really, I believe, need to watch a lot of people play a lot to get an understanding of who they are and how they handle adversity.” Seawell commented.

The Blitz kicks off live and local coverage of Alabama sports every morning from 6-7 AM on Tide 102.9/100.9 and the radioPup app.