Addressing the ball on the first tee, Jim Fuller will look for serenity in the tense moment. With a tranquil blue sky above and freshly mowed grass below, Fuller will have seen the moment thousands of times before, visualizing the instant in his mind. As a smooth southern breeze tantalizes the nearby trees, Fuller will begin the next phase of competition with driver in hand.

In just over a month, "Jimbo," as he is referred to by his family, friends, teammates and coaches, will begin play on the Gateway Tour, a stepping stone for potential PGA Tour professionals. Centered in Myrtle Beach, S.C., the tour will extend from late May to mid-September and will consist of 10 54-hole events, four 72-hole contests and the Gateway Tour Championship.

Situated on a crest of the prairies and located along the Arkansas River, Fuller's hometown of Muskogee, Okla., is 1,100 miles away from Myrtle Beach. Based on opportunity alone, the gap is tremendously wider.

Playing golf every day, Fuller began participating in local tournaments at the age of nine. While attending Muskogee H.S., Fuller traveled the United States and gained recognition, which landed him at Penn State.

A 10th-semester senior and hotel and restaurant management major, Fuller has lowered his average during each of his four collegiate seasons. Averaging 75.4 shots per round during the 1999-2000 campaign, Fuller shot a blistering 70.3 last fall, during his greatest stretch of competition.

In the James Madison Invitational, Fuller recorded 20 birdies in a three-day stretch and shot a 16-under 197, which eclipsed the Penn State 54-hole tournament mark. A week later, Fuller was at it again, placing second in the Northern Intercollegiate.

With only two tournaments under its belt this spring season, Penn State has relied yet again on Fuller, who tied for the team lead in the recent FirstEnergy Collegiate. With difficult conference encounters ahead for the Nittany Lions, Fuller is optimistic for regional and national competition.

"We have a very good team mindset," Fuller said, considering his teammates "the best I could have ever hoped for."

Fuller's travels after graduation, however, will be individual in nature.

While many graduating seniors would abhor the thought of attending school in the fall, Fuller is encouraged by the notion. The Gateway Tour leads into PGA qualifying school, which culminates with a grueling six-day, 108-hole tournament. Golfers who perform admirably in the Q-school tournament will move on to the PGA Tour, while golfers who fail to make the grade can hone their skills on a less prestigious tour.

Listing mental toughness as one of his attributes, Fuller feels a need to remain mentally sound and calm while on the golf course. He has even been known to write down his thoughts and techniques before a tournament and read his comments throughout competition.

Sometime this summer, Fuller will approach his dimpled golf ball as it settles into a greenside bunker. Taking his sand wedge, Fuller will remain composed and collected, saving the hole by dropping the ball just feet from the hole. Following his dream and striving for a spot on the PGA Tour, Fuller will use his strong mental skills as if they were his putter or five-iron.