Texas A&M golfer Jerad Harklau is not your average golf nut. Unlike most collegiate golfers who grew up with a golf club in their hand from the time they were born, Harklau did not pick up the game until he was 13, when he saw former golfing great Greg Norman playing on television. It was then that Harklau decided to give up every other sport and dedicate his time to golf – a move he has never regretted.
“I used to play golf with my older brother who is nine years older than me, but I was more interested in just having fun on the course at that time,” Harklau said. “Greg Norman had a big influence on me playing golf, because at the time he was the biggest name on the tour. I really liked his style of play and his attitude on the course.”
Harklau, who is a team captain of this season’s Texas A&M Golf team, is not flashy by any means. His wide grin and laid-back attitude make him seem like more of a jokester than a stoned face professional – but regardless of the way he acts off the course, Harklau plays with an unrivaled passion and workmanlike attitude, which has given him the title of one of the most consistent golfers on the A&M squad.
“I keep people loose most of the time,” Harklau said. “I’m really not one that gets on to anybody, even though I’m a team captain. I just try and keep everybody in a positive mind frame by making sure everyone isn’t being too serious. I guess I’m more of a mediator to the guys a lot of the time.”
During his days at Rockwall High School, Harklau led by example and was a key cog in his Rockwall team that placed second at the 2002 Texas Class 5A high school golf championship. During the tournament, Harklau shot a career-best round of 68 to finish in a tie for fourth place.
“(The Rockwall team) was just gelling at that point,” Harklau said. “We had a great team chemistry, and I guess that just came out on the course during the entire season.”
The same team chemistry Harklau had in Rockwall has transferred over to his two years of playing on the A&M Golf team. During his time on the team, Harklau has been part of one of the biggest turnarounds at A&M, turning the A&M Golf team from a relative unknown to a potential golf powerhouse. During his time at A&M, Harklau attributes his solid play to one thing – his teammates.
“It really is like we’re brothers on and off the course,” Harklau said. “A lot of times you would probably want to get away from each other since we’re together so much, but with us, we just love hanging out with on and off the course. Everybody cares for one another on our team. It really is like a big family.”
A&M Golf coach J.T. Higgins believes that Harklau is an integral piece to this season’s golf team that has aspirations of going all the way to the NCAA Championships this season.
“Jerad is a great player and team captain,” Higgins said. “He might not be the most vocal guy on the team, but his senior leadership really comes out on a daily basis.”
Harklau might have goals and aspirations of playing on tour someday, but at the moment there are two things on his mind – the NCAA Golf Championships at Crosswater Golf Course in Sunriver, Ore., and making the most of his final rounds of collegiate golf at A&M.
“(The University of Georgia) is a great golf team,” Harklau said. “But I know, along with the rest of my teammates, that we can hang with any team in the nation. To get the chance to finish my career going to the NCAA Championships and winning with these guys – well I just don’t think there could be a better moment in my golfing career that could top it.”