( atc )
Next Up
Spotlighting the
next generation of
Virginia golfers
COMING
OF AGE
by CHRIS LANG
MICHAEL BRENNAN
Virginia Golfer: You’ve committed to Wake
Forest University where you’ll receive
the prestigious Arnold Palmer Scholar-
ship. What attracted you to Wake’s pro-
gram, and what kind of honor is it to earn
that scholarship?
8
Michael Brennan: I was attracted to
Wake for many reasons. I went on my
first visit just because of the great history
and legacy of Wake Forest golf. I soon
realized it was not just about the history,
I felt an immediate connection with coach
V I R G I N I A G O L F E R | M AY / J U N E 2 0 1 9
AGE: 17
HOMETOWN: Leesburg
HOME CLUB: River Creek Club
(Jay) Haas, and the practice facility they
have right on campus is top notch. I also
liked the feel of a smaller school. The
golf academic advisor was very helpful
and thorough, I left feeling like I would
be a successful student-athlete with her
support. The new athletic building that
will be opening soon is going to be a big
upgrade with a fueling program, trainers
and gym. Wake Forest started a new engi-
neering program and the building is right
in downtown Winston-Salem and is very
cool. When you look at the history of the
golfers who graduated with the Arnold
Palmer scholarship, I was totally honored
to be selected as a recipient.
vsga.org
WHEN MICHAEL BRENNAN FIRST BURST ONTO THE VIRGINIA AMATEUR
SCENE IN 2016, he was the answer to the trivia question: Who is the youngest player
in the field at the VSGA Amateur Championship?
A year later in 2017, Brennan was still the youngest player in the field, but he was no
longer a curiosity. He earned stroke-play medalist honors before falling in match play
to eventual champion Mark Lawrence Jr. Since then, Brennan has become one of Vir-
ginia’s most accomplished juniors. He won the Dustin Johnson World Junior in Myrtle
Beach in 2018 and was selected to the last two Virginias squads for the Captain’s Putter
Matches, a Ryder Cup-style competition featuring top players from Virginia and West
Virginia against top players from North and South Carolina.
Brennan spoke with Virginia Golfer about his accomplishments and his future in
the sport.