Sophomore Dustin Sloat is not the same player he was in high school and his freshman year in college, but the Charleston native isn’t even the same player he was a couple weeks ago.

“We’ve been working on some swing changes to make him technically a better player,” Eastern head coach Mike Moncel said.

The problem with Sloat’s game last year was his inability to hit a fairway but now with Moncel, who has monitored his game for years, Sloat is able to nearly walk the ball out to a specific spot.

“Last year, my swing was based on timing and when the timing was on, I would shoot a low number. But if I was off, the scores would be higher,” Sloat said.

When Moncel arrived on campus, he noticed something in Sloat that puzzled and frustrated him very quickly.

“I took the job and was suddenly shocked (and said), ‘Wow, Dustin has really regressed because he’s been fighting a big hook,’ and he still has mechanical problems,” Moncel said.

Moncel believes motivation is the key to Sloat’s success rather than the physical swing itself.

“I’ve always known Dustin has the ability to be a great player but I think he lost interest in golf along the way,” Moncel said.

At the Ironhorse Intercollegiate, Sloat’s final round 79 actually looks impressive when the field average totaled 86.

“His last round seven-over 79 became equivalent to a two-under par number,” Moncel said. “About half the field quit and he posted one of the day’s best numbers.”

Last season, Sloat took an opening round lead after posting a one-under-par 71 but ballooned in the final round to shoot a round over 90.

“I think if Dustin has the motivation and drive to get there, he can play at high level of consistency,” Moncel said.

However, after going into the final round with a two stroke lead over Tennessee State’s Robert Dinwiddie, he overcame the anxiety of being the chased player and won the individual title by four strokes.

“I actually felt the difference in some of my swings during those three days,” Sloat said. “I had a couple of hooks but it felt really good to break through and not blow up over the next two rounds.”

Sloat decided to stay in his hometown when he signed the national letter of intent to play at Eastern.

“I knew (former Eastern head coach and director of golf at William & Mary) coach Jay Albaugh was interested in me,” Sloat said.

Sloat was introduced to the game at a family event when his grandfather bought him his first junior set and taught him the game.

“My grandparents brought me to play but my real dad and step dad can both play pretty well, too,” Sloat said.