Finding the right chemistry
Kansas Golf Foundation Scholar: Trey Herman
Hays’ Trey Herman says “golf is a game that anything is possible with the right mindset.”
Buoyed by that belief, and a successful senior season on his high school golf team, the Kansas Golf Foundation scholar has taken his playing talents to Fort Hays State University 
and is helping the Tigers try and qualify for the NCAA Division II National tournament later this spring.
“We’re halfway into our spring season right now…the fall (season) was good and this spring we’re looking at making it to regionals,” says Herman, a 19-year-old freshman chemistry student at FHSU. “There are a couple teams that we need to beat.”
At the time of his interview for the Junior Scholar profile, Herman had competed in both of the Tigers’ spring golf events. In the Tigers’ season opener at the Shootout at Auguila in Phoenix, Herman tied for 28th with rounds of 79/81 for a 160 total. His teammate and former KGA Junior Amateur champion Markus Hilger of Garden Plain tied for top individual honors with a 145 as FHSU placed fifth.
Herman then tied for 70th with a 161 after shooting rounds of 78 and 83 at the Central Oklahoma Invitational at the par-72 Gaillardia Country Club course. The Tigers placed eighth in an event shortened to two rounds due to inclement weather.
Frequent challengers at state
Herman says he learned to play golf at his father’s side at the Smokey Hill course in Hays.
“I think it was actually when I was about 3 years old…with his clubs,” Herman says. “I started swinging left-handed and he didn’t like that. He immediately switched me over to my right hand. I started playing in some tournaments when I was 6 with some 8-year-olds. I played locally within the Hays area. I grew up out at Smoky.”
Herman played in KJGA events and would go on to join the Hays High golf team as a freshman.
“I became very dedicated to (golf) and would practice every chance I could,” he says.
Herman, joined by teammate Nick Von Lintel, says the Indians had a good team his freshman year, but adds their sophomore squad was probably their best during their four years of high
school golf.
“We competed very well,” he recalled. “We went to state but we didn’t play very well. We took second as a team and I won (at regionals at McPherson’s Turkey Creek) my sophomore year. My junior year Nick had an awesome year and we took second at state at Winfield Country Club.”
Their senior year Herman was conference MVP, won the regional event held at Smoky Hill and would go on to finish second as the team placed third at the state tourney held at Newton’s Sand Creek Station.
A point guard on the Indians’ basketball team and a center midfielder for the soccer squad, Herman was also very involved in non-athletic extracurricular activities at Hays High. He participated in National Honor Society, the HHS Industrial Technology Association, the Leadership Team and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
On pre-med path
Herman says he knew he wanted to continue his golf in college after a “break-out” senior year that saw him shoot under par in his last few events.
“That was a surprise,” he admits.
With its close proximity to home and its value, Fort Hays stood out so he committed to the Tigers.
Herman says “college golf hasn’t been that much different” than what he experienced in high school.
“You do compete at a higher level obviously,” he admitted. “It’s very time-consuming. They’re all two-day tournaments.”
A fine student with a flair for math and chemistry, Herman has chosen chemistry as his major with his sights set on a career in the medical field. He’s already gotten involved in FHSU’s Honor Society.
In an earlier letter to the Kansas Golf Foundation, he suggested an interest in becoming a “specialized doctor or surgeon” and possibly attending the University of Kansas Medical School when he graduates from Fort Hays.
Now, Herman is looking at dermatology as a possible specialization.
“I realize this will require significant amounts of effort, but with my commitment and optimistic mindset, I know I can fulfill my future dreams,” Herman wrote.
Herman says he has benefited from his involvement with the KJGA and the KGF.
“It’s been awesome…when I was a senior playing in all the KJGA events kept me involved throughout the summer and kept my interest in golf and what I want to do with my future,” he says. “(The KGF Scholarship) has definitely been a big help when it comes to my education. I have a lot of schooling to do and I know how expensive it will get. The cost is pretty high.”
