Berry Seeks to Repeat Peak Performance

Chris Berry’s degree from Nevada Las Vegas is in sports management, but the Esperanza graduate will be the first to tell you the last five years have taught him a lot about his golf game, too.

Berry, who received his degree last Saturday, has endured a college career in which he has risen from rock bottom to the national spotlight, a journey from tremendous self doubt to extreme confidence.

The No. 3 player for the second-ranked Rebels, Berry hopes to end his career on a high note as UNLV begins defense of its national title today in the NCAA West Regional tournament at Tucson National Resort in Arizona.

“We have high expectations,” Berry said. “The only thing we can ask for is to be somewhere around the lead on the last day, then hopefully we can draw on our experiences in the past.”

Berry was referring to his 1998 experience, when he shot a 16-under-par 272 to tie for second among individuals at the NCAA championships. He certainly wouldn’t want to draw on his experience of 1996, when he shot 91-81-81-85, finished last and watched the Rebels finish second to Arizona State by three strokes.

“After the national in ‘96, I didn’t know if I wanted to do this anymore,” Berry said. “I figured I could pout and moan or I could work hard and get over it. I decided I would rather work at it than throw in the towel.”

So he did. He took a medical redshirt in 1997 to rest his ailing back. Though he said he could have played, he didn’t want to push it. He worked on his game, especially the mental part.

“I think everything happens for a reason,” Berry said. “I think you have to suffer and hit rock bottom to succeed. I learned more from that failure than I did from any success.”

The results prove it.

In this, his final year of eligibility, Berry got his first collegiate victory in the U.S. Collegiate Championships in April. It was the only college tournament televised this year.

“It was really cool,” Berry said. “I think everyone starts to doubt themselves when you haven’t done anything. You doubt if you can play at this level. That starts going away when you get in that position.”

Armed with his degree and newfound confidence, Berry plans to test the professional golf world after the NCAA tournament.

“I just kind of want to keep playing,” Berry said.