LONG Beach State golf coach Rob Murray has been delighted by the progress of Hampshire’s latest Walker Cup star Charlie Forster, following two outstanding seasons playing for the university on the south side of Los Angeles.
Forster has helped lift Long Beach towards a place in the top 30 of the NCAA rankings while becoming the first LBS player to appear in the Walker Cup for either team.
Rob said: “I first became aware of Charlie back in his junior days in England. As a fellow Brit I keep tabs on promising talent coming up through the ranks at home, and Charlie’s name popped up with his solid performances.”
In his last summer as a junior he won the 2021 South of England Boys Open and the South West Schools Championship before making a strong run to the semi-final of the 2022 English Amateur Championship in his first summer in the men’s ranks.
Rob revealed: “But it was his time at Southeastern Louisiana that really put him on my radar – winning Southland Conference Player of the Year in 2023, with consistent low scoring and a mature approach to the game.
“When he entered the transfer portal that spring, it was a no-brainer for us at Long Beach State.
“Working with the team at College Sports America helped us evaluate his ball-striking ability, which we knew would translate well to our schedule and courses out here in California.
“We saw him as someone who could immediately elevate our line-up and push for individual honors while contributing to team success.
“When Charlie arrived in 2023, we set clear goals together: Focusing on his putting and mental game.
“He helped the team defend our Big West title while pushing deeper into NCAA Regionals. I’d absolutely say he’s exceeded those expectations over the past two years.
“Not only did he deliver on consistency – posting a scoring average around 70 with multiple top-fives – but he also racked up wins like the Wyoming Cowboy Classic, where he set a program record, earned the Big West Golfer of the Year title, and became an All-American honorable mention.
“Add in his selections for the Arnold Palmer Cup, where he helped the international team win, and now the Walker Cup for GB&I… that’s way beyond what we initially thought.
“He’s become a record breaker for us, leading the team in scoring all-year long. The GB&I and European selections have elevated his profile internationally and put him in rare company.
“Without those, we’d still be thrilled, but they’ve shown his ability to perform on bigger stages, which bodes well for his future.”
So what sets Charlie out from his Long Beach peers, who include Jack Cantlay, the younger brother of PGA Tour winner and US Ryder Cup ace Patrick.
Rob replied: “In his game, it’s his elite ball-striking – long, straight drives that give him birdie looks from anywhere – his putting under pressure, plus his ability to go low.
“The areas he’s worked most on are his short game and mental resilience in tough spots. Coming from England, he was already strong in the wind, but we’ve worked on his putting, and he’s put in hours on the mental side of the game.
“My input has been hands-on, while using sports psychology resources to build that tough mindset.
“I’d characterise our relationship as a mentor-player one, with a strong motivational and psychological element.
“I was his college coach for two years, so my job was to give him all the resources, but also be a sounding board for life stuff, like balancing academics, travel, and the mental grind of college golf.
“Assuming he goes pro after he plays for England in next month’s Eisenhower Trophy (World Amateur Team Championship), what I’ll be most proud of from our two years together is watching him grow from a talented transfer into a confident leader and All-American, who not only won individually, but lifted the whole program – helping us to back-to-back Big West titles and our best regional finish ever.
“Seeing him represent GB&I at the Walker Cup as the culmination of our time together? That’s the stuff that makes coaching rewarding.”