Major: Business Administration
Hometown: Bakersfield, CA
Career Highlights: Four-time letter winner for Men's Golf; President of the USF Student Alumni Association; Member of the USF Student Athlete Advisory Board
Biography: Pounds was a member of the golf team for four years from 1995 to1999. He won the 1995 Southern California Junior Amateur Championship, and represented Southern California in the Junior America’s Cup. Pounds traveled and competed in every golf tournament USF participated from the fall of 1995 through the spring of 1999. He was captain of the USF golf team his sophomore, junior, and senior seasons
Why Pounds Chose USF: “I grew up in Bakersfield and went to a Catholic high school, Garces Memorial. I first learned about USF during a college tour our high school counselor took us on. On that trip, I met Cameron Ayers, who ran the campus ministry at the time. I really enjoyed meeting Cameron and liked the idea of being in the City. That said, my heart was set on playing collegiate golf at UCLA or UCSB. When both of those options did not work out (for various reasons), my heart quickly shifted to USF because of the people I met, the intimacy of the university culture, the top-notch golf facilities, and a top-25 tournament schedule.”
Favorite USF Memories: “One of my favorite memories was during my sophomore season when we were playing a tournament hosted by Rice in the Houston area. It was pouring rain and near the end of the round I was huddled under my umbrella to stay as dry as possible on the tee box of a par three hole. When it became my turn to hit, I ran out from under my umbrella, teed it up, hit it, then ran back to my bag. It was about a 195 yard shot over a bunker with water behind the green. I did not see where the ball went, but Coach Dick Nicolopulos (one of the only coaches out there in the weather) was in his cart behind the green and motioned that "it went in" and drove off. I hit my four iron well, but with the weather, I knew it would be hard to carry that bunker. When I got to the bunker, I could not find my ball. My playing competitors were helping me look everywhere, including in the water. After about five minutes, I started walking back to the tee to hit again, as my ball was lost. While walking back, one of the guys in my group yelled “it’s in the hole." After the round, I asked coach what the lack of enthusiasm was about. He said, “I told you it was in the hole.” Let me tell you, no golfer would have interpreted that signal as being in the hole. That was one of two competitive hole-in-ones I have had in my life.”
The USF Student-Athlete Experience: “Any time I hear a high school student contemplating playing a collegiate sport, I tell them “go for it." Even if an athlete walks on to a team and rarely starts, it gives you an experience that is hard to replicate elsewhere. You are immediately a member of a new family that works together to improve so that when you compete, you win. It also keeps you busy day and night, which is good preparation for the real world. Being a student-athlete also gives you a close tie to the university, which is enjoyable during the four years on campus, but invaluable as you network throughout your career.”
Life After USF: Pounds spent his professional career building and marketing technology products that helped people, businesses, and organizations store, manage, and utilize data. Pounds remained an avid golfer.
