CGN Player Highlight and Interview: Ben Gratzl’s Growth and Focus at Oral Roberts
Oral Roberts sophomore Ben Gratzl continues to build on a strong start to his collegiate career after earning All Summit League honors as a freshman. Originally from Munich, Germany, he developed his game in a short outdoor season and long indoor months focused on technical work.
Career Highlights
All Summit League selection as a freshman
Third at the William H. Tucker Invitational
Bavarian Junior State Champion
Bavarian Team State Champion
German Junior Team runner up
National Junior Qualifier Champion
Collegiate Results Snapshot
2024 to 2025
All Summit League honors
Third at the William H. Tucker Invitational
T22 at the N I T in Arizona at five under
T35 at the Tiger Invitational in Missouri at eight over
Key Moments from the CGN Interview
Early golf in Germany
Gratzl described learning the game in short summers and spending winters indoors hitting into nets and focusing on technique. He said this taught him precision and patience, but adjusting to faster greens in the United States took time.Course differences
He noted that German courses are softer and slower with tighter tee shots, while U S courses have faster greens and more variety in grass and short game conditions.Transition to college golf
The hardest adjustments were adapting to the greens, the language, and cultural differences. He said understanding pace and where to miss approach shots were key lessons in his first months.Summer work
Gratzl focused on basic short game shots to improve up and downs, hitting the ball higher around the greens, and improving lag putting and short putts inside five feet.Mental preparation
He emphasized building a consistent pre shot routine and learning to accept mistakes by finding a reason for them, then moving on to the next shot with confidence.Team and personal goals
He said the team aims for a top five finish in its final fall events and is already preparing for regionals. Individually, he hopes to record more top finishes and continue improving each round.
Sources
ORU Player Profile
Full CGN Interview
