Nashua North senior Bryce Zimmerman is all smiles as he signs a letter of intent Friday to attend school and play golf at the University of Hartford. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

NASHUA – A few years ago, before he left Nashua North with a Division I college golf scholarship in hand, former Titans golf standout Brandon Gillis told his coach, Scott Anderson, not to worry.

There was another top golfer waiting in the wings.

Sure enough, Gillis was right. All Bryce Zimmerman did was win two individual state championships in four years and Friday he, too, signed a letter of intent to play Division I golf, heading in the fall to the University of Hartford.

“Every coaches dream,” Anderson said. “Another kid that wants to live at the golf course. He basically stepped right in to Brandon’s shoes.

“He made the program better. It makes the kids realize they need to be at this level. It’s not just a rec team. He’s definitely one of the top two or three players I’ve seen in my years of coaching.”

In August, Zimmerman had a couple of schools on the radar, and he knew Portsmouth’s Eric Evans at Hartford. So he sent Hartford coach Pete Stankavich an email and the two began talking on the phone.

And the recruiting process began, culminating in Friday’s signing. Zimmerman, who hasn’t declared a major but is leaning towards sports marketing, is getting an academic scholarship and will likely eventually get some scholarship funds for golf. Those have been limited due in part to the pandemic.

“I’ve always wanted to play Division I golf,” Zimmerman said. “Kind of staying in the area would be nice, it’s only two hours away from home.

“I just wanted to put my name out there, and as soon as I went to see the campus, all the coaching, and the courses they would play, it seemed like a great fit.”

Zimmerman thought about playing at a southern school, likely in Division II or III, “but I think staying home (in New England) would have worked out better for me personally and family. Two hours distance is that I can get far enough away from home but close enough to come back.”

Hartford plays a fall and spring schedule, and just began its spring slate after it was cancelled last year due to COVID. “By the time I get there in the fall it should be a pretty normal schedule,” Zimmerman said. “And they travel a lot which is something I like.”

At North, of course, Zimmerman was the top golfer every season, assured of a spot. At Hartford, he’ll have to fight for that spot, most likely, especially as an underclassman.

“I like the idea of fighting for a spot,” he said, “because I like the idea of going out somewhere and trying to earn it, playing my best. I think it’s going to make me better.

“Every single year I get better as a golfer. I think going into college with the workload, I’m going to practice a lot. And I know some of the guys on the team already, and I think it’s going to be a good place to fight for my spot. I’m looking forward to it.”

Zimmerman had a solid post season as a freshman, then won two straight state titles before finishing fourth this year.

As Anderson said, other teams would just watch and say “OK, what is he going to beat us by today.”

“Winning two state championships was amazing,” Zimmerman said. “To be part of a threepeat would have been great, but two is OK in my book.”

And a spot on the University of Hartford golf team to boot.

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