Like many of his fellow spring student-athletes, Justin Lane of the golf team watched the 2020 spring season come to a sudden halt on March 12 due to the spread of COVID-19. Since then, he has stayed in touch with his teammates, kept working on his game and is looking forward to returning to the course in the future.

Take us through the day when you found out that the spring golf season was canceled.

The day I found out that the spring season was canceled was one of the craziest days I've ever experienced. We didn't get the official notice until we met with our coach at 5 pm. But by that time I knew it was over. As the day progressed more and more conferences were canceling sports. I talked to some friends in different conferences and they all had their seasons canceled. I went to class and practice like normal but watched the sports world fall apart all day. When our coach told us the season was over before it even started, I just couldn't believe what was happening. Our team was scheduled to go to Tennessee two days later and now that was over. It was just a day of disbelief and shock.

What were the next several days before you left campus like?

The day after everything got canceled I actually went to a lake house with two of my teammates. We were all in shock about what had happened and I don't think it had really set in at this point. We decided to get away from everything. We spent the weekend playing golf at Copake Country Club. We got back to Binghamton on Sunday and I packed up and went home Monday.

How has the team been able to stay in touch and remain close during those times?

Several of the guys on the team have classes together so we stay in touch about the classwork. Also, we have a team group chat that keeps us in touch with one another.

What has the adjustment been like for you this last month?

The adjustment hasn't been too tough. I live in a rural area so we can still go out and do most things. Luckily, my hobbies are outdoor activities that keep me away from people such as golf and fishing. The transition to online classes was smooth and stress-free. I've been able to play a lot of golf since being home so I've been staying busy which helps.

How much have the three seniors on the team meant to you?

It's been great to be on the team with Ryan (Rodriguez), Tom (Mandel), and Chris (Yustin). I've known Ryan since junior golf and have lived with him for the past two years. It's been great to play with him and push each other to get better. Tom and Chris hosted me on my official visit all those years ago and were the first people I really knew when I came to Binghamton. We've shared classes together over the past few years, which has always been fun. We've shared some great times and some great golf together and the team will miss them.

What are your thoughts looking ahead to the future going into your senior year?

I'm excited about next year and possibly even a fifth year. I'll have the next few months to really get my game where it needs to be next fall. We will be playing a few different tournaments which will be interesting. I think our team is going to be strong and we will have a good shot at winning some tournaments.

How close have you been able to get to family this past month?

I've always been close to my family and being at home is nice. We've been doing some work around the house and keeping each other busy in these crazy times. One nice thing is that I don't have to cook dinner every night any more.