Despite junior Chris Lawler’s individual successes, which includes his ranking at the No. 1 position and serving as a continual low-scorer, he regards the Cabrini golf team as the most valuable aspect of his playing career.
Lawler recently shot a match-best round, a one over 73, which secured a victory over CSAC rivals Immaculata University. During the current 2008 fall season, Lawler finished third among 16 participants in a match against Philadelphia University and led the Cavaliers to victory at the 2008 Moravian College Fall invitational.
“Chris is our No. 1 player, which is obviously a great achievement and is consistently one of the lowest scorers,” Dr. Tony Verde, Cabrini’s head golf coach, said of Lawler’s victories.
Individual performance is often highlighted in golf, but Lawler views himself as part of a collaborative unit that together achieves victories or struggles. He’ll admit that he and his team members are often in competition with one another, but that he is motivated by his teammate’s successes.
“When someone plays well, you don’t want that one person to carry you, so you feed off of them and play well,” Lawler said.
Lawler began playing golf before his freshman year of high school after his father introduced him to the game.
“I liked it. It was different. No other kids played it,” Lawler said.
He played on the golf team at Plymouth-Whitemarsh High School for four years where he received both the coaches and MVP awards and participated on an All-American team. High school coach George Wadlin regards Lawler as an appreciated contribution to his high school team.
Wadlin remembers Lawler most as being a “quiet self-motivated individual” who served as a team leader.
“Chris led through example,” Wadlin said.
Wadlin recalls a situation in which Lawler led through example. “At districts someone broke into his trunk before his match and stole his clubs,” Wadlin said.
Lawler still played in the match, with loner clubs, losing the district title by only one point. Wadlin was impressed Lawler even played that match, despite the prior circumstances.
Lawler has since continued to lead his team in college, according to Verde. “He’s very good with the younger players. I trust him with them. He is definitely one of our leaders on the team,” Verde said.
His personal greatest overall achievement was the winning of the PAC conference title.
“Last year when we won our conference and got to nationals, I was able to win the individual title,” Lawler said of his achievement.
Anticipating the remainder of the 2008 fall golf season, Lawler hopes to secure an overall victory within the CSAC conference, place higher at the national level and continue enjoying the game of golf.
