Growing up in France, Hugo Archer didn’t play the sports most Americans are accustomed to in their early years. Instead of baseball and football, he played rugby, soccer, tennis and even swam.
He also played golf. While he continues to play some of the others for fun, golf was always the sport that was a constant.
Archer said in France, there aren’t too many options. It’s either turn professional or go to college.
For Archer, he chose college and that’s what brought him to Southern Illinois after he spent his last two seasons at the University of Kentucky.
“I don’t remember the reason why, but I guess that kind of paid off,” he said of his choice to pursue golf.
After a stop in Lexington, Archer said he needed a change. He wanted somewhere he could grow but also bond with those around him. Archer entered the transfer portal at the end of his sophomore year and after going back to France, Carbondale came calling.
Archer thought he had his next spot figured out but again, things just didn’t shake out for the soon-to-be junior. Then Southern Head Coach Justin Fetcho reached out to Archer.
“We are so thankful that Hugo chose to become a Saluki,” Fetcho said. “He has fit in seamlessly with the rest of the players and with our culture and environment.”
He said he looked at the schedule for the Salukis and after talking to…
