Senior golfer Baptiste Courtachon has been chosen for this week’s Athlete of The Week. Courtachon is from Antibes, France and majoring in business administration. He finished his last tournament as a student this past week with a final round of 69 and tied for 10th at one-under par.
The Lion’s Roar: How have you liked living at Southeastern?
Baptiste Courtachon: I’ve liked it a lot, the weather is very nice, and I have very good friends. I love it.
TLR: Was it hard to move here from France?
BC: Yes, it was very hard, and still is. I get homesick, but I have very good friends and it helps. It was pretty hard the first year, but it is easier now.
TLR: Do you take time to call your parents?
BC: Yes, I do. We Skype a lot, and I do whatever I can do to stay in touch every day.
TLR: How long have you been playing golf? Who introduced you to it?
BC: I’ve played golf since I was 10, maybe. My father introduced me to it. He was a very good soccer player, and I was into that, but after I began playing golf I became more interested.
TLR: What drew you to the sport of golf?
BC: At the beginning I didn’t like golf, but after I played, I did. With this sport, you can win a tournament and still not be satisfied with your performance. So [improving] never ends, and that’s very exciting.
TLR: What do you plan on doing after college?
BC: I’ll go back home. I have my golf teaching degree, and I would like to teach it and become a professional player.
TLR: Are you happy with how you finished out your career at Southeastern?
BC: I am happy. I talked with my coach about how at the beginning I didn’t play like I wanted to but improved this semester. So yes, I’m very happy.
TLR: What has been your best play over the years?
BC: When I was back home I won a tournament by 11 shots, and I think that was my best performance. It was pretty exciting to play like that.
TLR: Were your parents able to watch you?
BC: My mom came the last day. I don’t like my parents to watch me, but I had a seven shot lead and so I thought it would be nice. She wanted to see me, so I thought, “What the heck?”
TLR: Was it hard being a foreign exchange student?
BC: In the beginning, it was hard finding a roommate. After I moved in with Grady Brame, he helped me a lot to make myself comfortable. His parents are like a second mom and dad to me.
TLR: What do you plan on doing with your major?
BC: I don’t really know. I will go back home and try to become a pro. Maybe after I’m done with golf ,I could try to do something with it.
TLR: What is your favorite Louisianan food?
BC: Something I like a lot is fried shrimp with some Chinese stuff on it.
TLR: Soy sauce?
BC: Yes, I like that so much.
TLR: Do you like the beignets here?
BC: I like it, but back at home they are better. They are bigger and just not the same.