Michigan State University Athletics
Photo by: Lois Christie Photo
Acevedo Finds Success on the Golf Course Following Years on the Court
5/5/2026 3:49:00 PM | Men's Golf
By Cameron Candler
For msuspartans.com
Michigan State's junior men's golfer Lucas Acevedo has come into his own after an unconventional start to his elite career.
Acevedo, a native of Daniel Island, South Carolina, was a late bloomer to golf growing up. A lot of his childhood was spent on the tennis court, which he started playing when he was 5-years-old. He excelled as a youngster on the court, gaining significant recognition while playing the sport competitively.
Golf was an occasional thing, but nothing as serious as his tennis.
"I started playing my first time when I was young with my dad, but I didn't really play more than once or twice a year up until I was 15," Acevedo said.
In 2019, he won South Carolina's Mr. Tennis award as a freshman at Porter Gaud High School. A rare feat.
Then COVID happened after his breakout high school year, and tennis shut down.
Golf, because it was socially distanced outside, was the only sport that was available for Acevedo. His friend's dad was also a golf instructor at Daniel Island Club, the club that Acevedo belonged to for tennis and remains a member.
"I got me a lesson with his dad and we went out and played, and it kind of turned into a schedule where that summer, we were playing 36 holes, and 54 holes a day, every single day," Acevedo said.
Constantly training influenced Acevedo to join a regional golf tournament 45 minutes from his house just for fun. He finished the course carding a 90. Competing in this tournament made him want to continue playing golf at the competitive level.
After balancing golf and tennis for close to a year, he decided to pursue golf full-time for the rest of his three years of high school. The rest is history.
Acevedo still plays tennis from time to time, as he feels it helps him perform better in golf.
Michigan State was the first campus Acevedo stepped foot on. His sister attended Interlochen Arts Camp for a few summers in northern part of Michigan so he had some familiarity with the state. During this time he and his sister got to see the MSU campus and some of other universities in the Midwest, including his father's alma mater, Ohio State.
What stood out to him about MSU was the community. Porter Gaud was a small high school, and seeing how big the East Lansing community and the fun memories of visiting made him want to be a part of it. During his senior year, he reached out to several Division 1 schools, making sure Michigan State was at the top of the list.
"Once I got in contact with the coaches and we just realized that we were both looking for similar things," Acvedio explained, "we realized that it would be a good direction for us to take. And so that's why I made my decision."
MSU men's golf assistant coach Chad Kurmel has been the most beneficial to Acevedo during his time as a Spartan, helping him improve his golf swing. Although he came to college with natural ability, his talent was still raw.
Under Kurmel, his game became more polished to better compete at the collegiate level.
"They kind of took a chance on me playing golf only four years before I came here," Acevedo said. "Scientifically, my mechanics were terrible. I kind of just used my athleticism to work my way around the gold course and to be able to score. Coach Kurmel was really good about improving my mechanics and getting my swing where it needed to be."
Acevedo improved his scoring average from 75.00 as a freshman, to 72.18 as a junior. He also reached a career bests with an 18-hole score of 68 and a 54-hole score of 212 at the 2025 Island Resort Intercollegiate tournament to start the season.
Acevedo gives credit to MSU men's golf head coach Casey Lubahn for helping him grow within the more intangible parts of golf. Having a more expressive personality on the course, Lubahn helped mold his mentality to be able to enjoy the times he's playing well, but not to hang your head and become too attached with bad performances.
Acevedo aspires to compete in the highest level of professional golf, such as tournaments like The Masters and on the PGA Tour, after his collegiate career.
Before he graduates, Acevedo wants to leave an everlasting impact fostering within the community of MSU golf, as they once did once he first came.
"I mean, I didn't know anyone here," he said. "I came into three fifth years, a senior, two juniors, and then another freshman. A lot of older guys that could've definitely stayed in their lane and done their own thing. They really showed us what it meant to be a part of a family and I really want to give that back to any incoming freshman."
For msuspartans.com
Michigan State's junior men's golfer Lucas Acevedo has come into his own after an unconventional start to his elite career.
Acevedo, a native of Daniel Island, South Carolina, was a late bloomer to golf growing up. A lot of his childhood was spent on the tennis court, which he started playing when he was 5-years-old. He excelled as a youngster on the court, gaining significant recognition while playing the sport competitively.
Golf was an occasional thing, but nothing as serious as his tennis.
"I started playing my first time when I was young with my dad, but I didn't really play more than once or twice a year up until I was 15," Acevedo said.
In 2019, he won South Carolina's Mr. Tennis award as a freshman at Porter Gaud High School. A rare feat.
Then COVID happened after his breakout high school year, and tennis shut down.
Golf, because it was socially distanced outside, was the only sport that was available for Acevedo. His friend's dad was also a golf instructor at Daniel Island Club, the club that Acevedo belonged to for tennis and remains a member.
"I got me a lesson with his dad and we went out and played, and it kind of turned into a schedule where that summer, we were playing 36 holes, and 54 holes a day, every single day," Acevedo said.
Constantly training influenced Acevedo to join a regional golf tournament 45 minutes from his house just for fun. He finished the course carding a 90. Competing in this tournament made him want to continue playing golf at the competitive level.
After balancing golf and tennis for close to a year, he decided to pursue golf full-time for the rest of his three years of high school. The rest is history.
Acevedo still plays tennis from time to time, as he feels it helps him perform better in golf.
Michigan State was the first campus Acevedo stepped foot on. His sister attended Interlochen Arts Camp for a few summers in northern part of Michigan so he had some familiarity with the state. During this time he and his sister got to see the MSU campus and some of other universities in the Midwest, including his father's alma mater, Ohio State.
What stood out to him about MSU was the community. Porter Gaud was a small high school, and seeing how big the East Lansing community and the fun memories of visiting made him want to be a part of it. During his senior year, he reached out to several Division 1 schools, making sure Michigan State was at the top of the list.
"Once I got in contact with the coaches and we just realized that we were both looking for similar things," Acvedio explained, "we realized that it would be a good direction for us to take. And so that's why I made my decision."
MSU men's golf assistant coach Chad Kurmel has been the most beneficial to Acevedo during his time as a Spartan, helping him improve his golf swing. Although he came to college with natural ability, his talent was still raw.
Under Kurmel, his game became more polished to better compete at the collegiate level.
"They kind of took a chance on me playing golf only four years before I came here," Acevedo said. "Scientifically, my mechanics were terrible. I kind of just used my athleticism to work my way around the gold course and to be able to score. Coach Kurmel was really good about improving my mechanics and getting my swing where it needed to be."
Acevedo improved his scoring average from 75.00 as a freshman, to 72.18 as a junior. He also reached a career bests with an 18-hole score of 68 and a 54-hole score of 212 at the 2025 Island Resort Intercollegiate tournament to start the season.
Acevedo gives credit to MSU men's golf head coach Casey Lubahn for helping him grow within the more intangible parts of golf. Having a more expressive personality on the course, Lubahn helped mold his mentality to be able to enjoy the times he's playing well, but not to hang your head and become too attached with bad performances.
Acevedo aspires to compete in the highest level of professional golf, such as tournaments like The Masters and on the PGA Tour, after his collegiate career.
Before he graduates, Acevedo wants to leave an everlasting impact fostering within the community of MSU golf, as they once did once he first came.
"I mean, I didn't know anyone here," he said. "I came into three fifth years, a senior, two juniors, and then another freshman. A lot of older guys that could've definitely stayed in their lane and done their own thing. They really showed us what it meant to be a part of a family and I really want to give that back to any incoming freshman."
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Golf
Ireland's Best | Spartans All-Access
Thursday, September 26
Supporting Heroes: Folds of Honor | Spartans All-Access
Thursday, September 19
Spartans All-Access: Folds of Honor Collegiate
Monday, September 11
Coach Lubhan | Weekly Press Conference | Aug. 28 2023
Monday, August 28