GALION — The beat goes on for Galion golf.
Yet another Tiger golfer is moving on to play at the next level.
The legacy continued when Nate McMullen signed his letter of intent on Friday to attend Otterbein University next fall.
“It’s pretty awesome. Nate had a great career, early on, in the shadow of his older brother,” Galion golf coach Bryce Lehman said. “The last two years he’s kicked it in gear even more. I believe he’s No. 8 now in my 13 years here to go on and play college golf. So, I’m really proud of him and the others before him.”
McMullen will follow in the footsteps of his brother, Nick, two years his senior. That was a major contributor to his decision to choose Otterbein.
“I’m excited. It will be cool to reunite,” McMullen said.
McMullen was named Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference Player of the Year last fall.
“I’m looking forward to hearing and seeing how he does, like the rest of them,” Lehman said. “Three of them now (MOAC POY). That’s a good thing also.”
Galion finished second in the MOAC behind Pleasant. McMullen recognizes that he is a product of the continued success the Tigers have found on the links — three players of the year and eight moving on to play at college.
“That’s pretty incredible. I’m happy to do it,” McMullen said. “My older cousin and my brother went through. We’ve been blessed with a great team for eight or nine years, as long as I can remember.
“We had such a great group of guys doing it and we were successful going to state,” McMullen said. “It was easier to bring our friends to it when you’ve been to state six years in a row.”
McMullen plans to have multiple majors at Otterbein in his pursuit of a law degree.
“I’m looking forward to it. They’ve got a great (golf) program,” McMullen said. “The academics are perfect for me. I prefer a little smaller school to have the help I need, so it’s going to be perfect.”
Besides the advantage of being able to play with his brother, Otterbein, located in Westerville, is close by and the Cardinals play in the Ohio Athletic Conference.
As an athlete, McMullen played other sports as well.
“I played baseball for a few years,” McMullen said. “I’m still on the edge whether I’m going to or not (this year). I’d like to. I love the sport.”
Either way, golf has been and continues to be McMullen’s first love.
“It’s exciting — exciting for his family — because I know how hard he works at it, how hard he works year-round, not just in the fall,” Lehman said. “If you put in the work, good things will happen.”