Kyler Tate enjoyed an historically successful run with the Knights from 2016-2019, including earning back-to-back All-Conference honors and making appearances at an NCAA Regional every year he was at UCF. Today, Tate is a part of the professional golfing world. Having most recently golfed on the PGA Latinoamérica Tour, Tate hopes to continue to make progress as a pro and hopes to utilize what he learned in his time with UCF to help him do so.
We caught up with Tate to discuss what he is up to now as well as what he remembers about his time in The Black and Gold.
What are you up to now?
I currently play golf on the PGA Latinoamérica Tour. During the off weeks I spend my time practicing to prepare for the weeks when Im on the road competing.
What is one of the most memorable moments you have had since leaving UCF?
The most memorable thing that has happened to me so far since leaving UCF was qualifying for the PGA Latinoamérica Tour a few months back. The qualifying school is a four-day event and it came down to the very end to decide whether or not I would make it and I birdied my last two holes to qualify.
Also since gradating, I was able to come back and watch the team win our home event Tavistock Collegiate Invitational at Isleworth. I got to watch the entire final round and to was able to see the team win and watching Johnny Travale win individually was pretty awesome.
What has been the biggest challenge you have faced since leaving UCF? How has the competitive landscape changed for you?
My biggest challenge that I have faced since leaving school has been learning how to be a professional golfer. The competitive landscape isn't much different than college golf but the fact that golf becomes your job makes it a little bit different. You also can't rely on teammates to back you up if you're having a bad day. Everything falls on you and you have to be able to roll with the punches.
What are your professional goals and how do you think you have made strides toward them?
My professional goals are to play and have status on the PGA Tour. I have made strides by qualifying for the PGA Tour Latinoamérica American tour which can propel you onto the Kornferry Tour with good play. The Kornferry tour leads straight to the PGA Tour and that is how I plan to reach my goal.
How many events have you competed in? What was your favorite?
Since turning pro In September, I have played many mini tour events and also played five events in Latin America. My favorite event so far has been in Lima, Peru. I was able to stay with some family friends and had a great time.
Why did you choose UCF?
The coaches, and being able to represent UCF, being from Orlando and having my dad as an alum.
What is your favorite athletic memory from UCF?
My favorite athletic memory at UCF was winning regionals as a team my sophomore year. We were not expected to win or even advance to nationals, but we believed and we beat some of the top teams in the country to advance to nationals where we placed 15th.
Who influenced your athletic career at UCF and how?
My Dad got me into golf at a young age and I have always wanted to be a professional golfer. I felt that UCF was the right place for me to become the best golfer I could become. With the help from Coach Wallor, Adrien Mork and Richard Donegan during my time at UCF, I was definitely able to get better and see improvements every year.
What is the most valuable lesson you learned in your time at UCF?
The most valuable lesson I learned at UCF is that there are no shortcuts to get to where you want to go. If I could do it again, I would have done this a little bit better and this could have helped my performance on and off the course at UCF better.