LAKEWOOD, Colo. — A few bumps aside, Lance Christensen’s golf story is still being written. 

In April, Christensen entered the transfer portal after playing four seasons at Division I New Mexico State University, and he was set to commit to another program in May. But on May 20, Christensen suffered a freak accident when he slipped and ruptured his hamstring tendons. 

“That was probably one of the worst days of my life,” Christensen said. “It was a really tough pill to swallow. I felt like it was my last chance. But there’s always a way, if you stay determined.”

The proximal hamstring tear injury ruptured all three of his tendons off the bone. It also derailed his college opportunities, and Christensen was ready to take the semester off to focus on his recovery.

“It basically threw everything out the window for me pretty much,” Christensen said. “The doctors were saying I wasn't going to be back until October, maybe even November. There were a lot of unknowns.”

Despite the uncertainty, Christensen stayed locked into his rehab and was determined to beat the 4-to-6 month recovery timeframe. He took 10 different vitamins a day, consumed two protein shakes a day and prioritized living a healthy lifestyle. 

Christensen said he matured during the process and he learned more about himself than he ever thought possible. 

“It just means so much because I didn’t give up,” Christensen said. “It’s the closest I've ever been to wanting to quit and maybe moving onto the next step of my life. But I realize this is what I wanted to do and I just love it so much. I put so much hard work into it and it means a lot.”

But Christensen was still without a college as the fall semester inched closer. Enter Colorado Christian University, an NCAA Division II golf powerhouse. The Cougars won the 2024 Division II national championship and finished runner-ups in 2025. 

Colorado Christian head coach Cameron Sandland texted Christensen the very same day he began playing golf again. It was also the same day as Christensen’s Driven Youth Golf Championship tournament in Martin. 

“It was literally one of the best days of my life, even before I got that text,” Christensen said. “It was just the perfect day. I did my youth tournament. It was one of my biggest goals I had checked off my list that I have been working on for a while. Then I got that text, and it was just the cherry on top.”

Two days later, Christensen visited the Colorado Christian University campus in Lakewood, committed not long after that and told Sandland he’d be ready to play golf by September. 

“In my head, a young 23-year-old, I thought it was all over,” Christensen said. “But the man up above showed me otherwise and I am here now.”

Christensen played in Colorado Christian’s 2025 opener in Sheridan, Wyoming, on Sept. 15-16 — four months after his injury. Christensen tied for 34th place with a 9-over-par for the two-day tournament.

Christensen said the nerves of playing his first tournament after the injury got the best of him. 

“I was being a little too hard on myself for all the things I’ve been through,” said Christensen, who won the 2019 Class A state high school golf championship, a first for a member of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. “I was expecting myself to have my game and I didn’t. So I kind of had to take a step back the next week and realize I am only capable of so much and I am only human.” 

On Sept. 22-23, Christensen readjusted his mental approach and tied for 11th at the San Juan Intercollegiate tournament in Montrose, Colorado. Christensen shot 69, 71 and 69 during the three rounds, including 15 birdies and an eagle. 

“The next tournament I just came in, and I was like ‘Just go have fun and enjoy yourself,’ ” Christensen said. “ ‘You know you are capable of shooting some scores and playing and potentially winning, don't get caught up in all the expectations.’ It worked out a lot better.”

The Cougars will play at the Shootout at the PGA Riviera on Sept. 28-30 in Akumal, Mexico, followed by their home tournament on Oct. 5-6 and will play in Hawaii on Oct. 21-22. 

The Cougars will then have a spring season, which will cap off Christensen’s final season of college golf. 

“I am just thankful for the man up above to give me this opportunity,” Christensen said. “I feel like it was something that I was supposed to do and I was called to do it. I am so grateful to my teammates and my head coach Cameron Sandland and everything he’s given me and given our team. We are really going to do something special this year once we get it figured out.” 

Christensen graduated from New Mexico State University with a bachelor’s degree in business, and is pursuing his master’s degree in business management at Colorado Christian.

Christensen has aspirations to play professional golf after college, and someday hopes to build a golf course and other sports facilities on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.

In the meantime, his golf story is still being written and he’s continuing to be a golf ambassador. Christensen sponsors camps and tournaments through his Driven Brand, motivating kids to reach their goals in life. 

“It kind of represents everything that I preach to the kids in my camps and what I tell them and what I represent,” Christensen said about his Driven Brand. “I just try to inspire the kids from the reservation whether it’s golf or not. Whatever you are going to do in life, don't give up.”