Otterbein's Sam Lahmon Named Printing Concepts Scholar-Athlete of the Month for June
Written By Otterbein University Sports Information Director Adam Prescott
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WESTERVILLE, Ohio – Sam Lahmon (becoming a college graduate just a few weeks ago) recently capped his golf career at Otterbein University by leading the Cardinals in the NCAA Division III Championships. He carded a pair of near-identical rounds to land T-51 in the field of 221, delivering a consistent finish to a journey that otherwise featured more of a roller coaster.
Either way, the four-year contributor now concludes his run as the final Ohio Athletic Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Month for the 2022-23 calendar…
Celebrating its 25th year of existence, the award honors an exceptional student-athlete on a monthly basis… with each of the 10 league institutions receiving an assigned month of the academic year. Criteria consists of being at sophomore, junior, or senior status, competing in a sport that’s in-season, sportsmanlike conduct, and carrying at least a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
WELCOME TO COLLEGE… AND COVID:
Lahmon was a lone ranger in his recruiting class, arriving as the only freshman back in 2019. He finished T-6 (of 55 players) in the OAC Fall Preview but never got to experience a traditional spring slate, as the sweeping pandemic forced an abrupt halt to his inaugural campaign.
“I didn’t have a lot of expectations to be in the lineup,” Lahmon began. “I more so wanted to learn from the upperclassmen and make small contributions. Spring break was such a good time and allowed me to really start connecting with older guys like Kurt Fortman, Johnny Peck, Sam Marty and Lucas Fox. They were teaching me the balance of having fun outside of golf, then locking in once you tee it up.”
But then, suddenly, nobody was allowed to tee it up for a little while as COVID sent Lahmon and his peers back home for the next 5-6 months. He continued working at Dayton Country Club, eventually working his way up to a supervisor role in managing outside operations, before returning to campus and navigating a sophomore year that was anything but normal…
SECOND-YEAR STANDBY:
The spring of 2021 was madness, as all sports competed at the same time in a modified slate of conference-only matchups. Lahmon played most every event but was not in the varsity lineup at OAC’s, where a veteran squad won the program’s sixth-straight crown.
“Despite that up-and-down season, his work ethic never changed,” head coach Brian Booher said. “Sam had to mature quickly in some areas but always kept the same approach. He would show up ready for anything we asked, and you could see him slowly becoming our future rock…”
Lahmon remained steady in the classroom as a finance major, ending that semester on the Dean’s List before accompanying the team to Oglebay Resort in West Virginia for support at NCAA’s. When the time came for the group to receive OAC Championship rings, Lahmon made the somewhat surprising decision to respectfully forego one himself…
“I knew that we win/lose together and that I was obviously part of a championship, but that decision stemmed from internal motivation and lighting a fire within myself,” Lahmon explained. “I wanted to earn it and compete first-hand. I never want to accidentally be the person standing around piggybacking off others.”
BUMP IN THE ROAD:
The evolving junior was now firmly in the lineup come 2021-22, landing OAC Player of the Week honors in early April after his T-4 result during a team victory in Indiana. He then led the Cardinals by finishing third alone at the OAC Championships for his first all-league award…
However, that individual momentum was short lived as the program’s run of six-consecutive trophies was snapped by John Carroll in shocking fashion. Otterbein led the tournament by 19 shots at the midway point, only to see JCU erase that deficit with a furious charge in the final round. The Blue Streaks would emerge by two shots in what marked a new champion for the first time in over 2,500 days.
“It was heartbreaking … no other way to say it,” Lahmon reflected. “I spent two full weeks after that on the golf course just grinding. I didn’t want any down time to think about what happened.”
“At first, it feels like the end of the world,” Booher added. “But you have to understand that, at some point, nothing lasts forever. My message (and challenge) was for us to use those emotions into our next opportunity and come back stronger. That’s all you can do after a setback in life.”
Lahmon eventually found a balance that summer before senior year… shaping his golf game while also working an internship at Cincinnati Insurance. Society had gotten back to normal, but the focus of Otterbein’s team captain was honed in on leaving everything the right way across his final chapter; executing in the classroom, strengthening important relationships, and getting the golf program back to where it belonged.
SENIOR SUMMATION:
No stone was left unturned for Lahmon during his last year as a college student-athlete. The originally soft-spoken freshman forced himself into taking public relations classes along the way, striving to enhance his communication and collaboration skills.
Lahmon was not perfect in the classroom, but worked hard to chalk up either an A or B in all but one class throughout four years. He graduated with a 3.46 cumulative GPA by the time his transcript was complete, adding minors of accounting and marketing analytics to his finance degree.
“I am fortunate to come from a family of teachers and educators,” Lahmon said. “I was raised to try my best… but also understand that it’s not a failure if I don’t get a perfect A+ in every class. I had some rough classes, but many others that I enjoyed and brought me outside of my comfort zone.”
His perspective in everyday life translated to key leadership for a men’s golf team welcoming five true freshmen, some needing to contribute right away.
“Coming into college athletics can be tough and overwhelming, but Sam was there to help support from day one,” said freshman Cam Uhl. “He did a great job guiding us (in terms of golf) and was just very inclusive overall, willing to put the time in as a friend. We will miss him… but Sam has definitely motivated me to step up and help further along this great program.”
Fittingly, after three years of unpredictability and certain elements out of his control, Lahmon saved his most consistent stretch of golf for last. The team won five tournaments this past spring, capped with a 25-shot victory over Capital at the OAC Championships to regain its throne. He played the last three rounds in a collective three-over par, including a 71 (-1) in red numbers during his third trip to ultimately rest T-8 on the leaderboard.
“Sam always wanted to achieve things by fully earning it… and that weekend brought him the long-awaited ring,” Booher said with pride. “He wasn’t afraid to be vocalize goals and be a main producer. That can make you vulnerable sometimes, especially in our sport where everyone can see your scorecard. But Sam never shied away from the limelight or expectations.”
CLOSING ACT:
Otterbein had commencement in the final days of April, but the men’s golf squad had more on its schedule with a return to the NCAA Championships… this time at Keene Trace in Nicholasville, Ky.
The Cardinals took 23rd of 43 schools with, you guessed it, Lahmon spearheading the lineup after consistent rounds of 74-73. He made a dozen pars over each trip to flirt with the Top 50, barely missing the individual cut by one spot…
Sam refused to look at scores throughout his closing round and actually didn’t know he was playing that well, or hovering around the cut line. He more so remembers Coach Booher (who he suggests is one of the best coaches in all of Division III) walking alongside him the last three holes to reach the finish line.
He remembers thinking about former high school/college teammate Rylan Quigley, one of his best friends that always helped talk through swings. He remembers walking off the 18th green and noticing Uhl, watching and waiting for his turn someday. More than anything, he recalls seeing his proud parents there one last time.
“The emotions didn’t hit me until we got back to the parking lot on campus,” Lahmon reflected. “To be honest, I was more satisfies than anything. I didn’t think this program could be as meaningful as what it’s become. This is really a brotherhood. I will always support the guys as much as I can and make it a point to come back.”
Now, Lahmon becomes another Cardinal alum heading out to represent in the professional world. He is currently working as a Commercial Underwriter Trainee with hopes of progressing within the industry soon enough.
“Everything that made him a great golfer will serve him well in the work force,” Booher added. “But for me, I remain so thankful that he decided to join our program and add to this tradition. He has more great things in his future.”
