"Let's Play 9!"

Which of the local Siouxland Golf Tournaments is your favorite and why (Does not have to be a Player of the Year qualifying tournament?

The City tournament is my favorite. It means the most to me personally as it represents where we live and play. Something about the "City" carries more weight with me. No out of towners, just the people you could bump into any weekend around Siouxland. It makes it more personal and more fun.

What has been your best golf moment up to now?

I slightly thrive when people are rooting against me, the you against the world feeling or trying to prove people wrong I find easier to play. There is always more second thoughts or distractions mentally for me when people actively want you to do well. That being said, my favorite moment would have been Tri-State this year. A playoff win against Johnny Spellerberg who very well may be the best amateur golfer in Nebraska. It was special because as a playoff occurs, so does the audience. Making a 15 footer on the first playoff hole to extend and knowing just about everybody there was rooting for me was pretty cool. I had a lot of support from the guys at my club and a few others that stayed around. Was good to have a local guy win I suppose.

How many holes in one have you had and how many have you witnessed?

I have 3 hole in ones, the first 2 occuring 4 days apart. I waited 11 years to collect my 3rd last year. I have shockingly never seen anybody make a one, a couple 2's on par 5's..but no 1's.

If money and access were no issue, what golf course would you love to play that you haven’t already played?

I have been very fortunate on being able to play some of the best or sought after, from Torrey Pines, Pebble, Doral, even St. Andrews and Carnoustie. I feel the only acceptable answer is Augusta National. It would be great fun to hit the shots you see on TV, especially the par 3 12th or the 2nd into 15. It would all be really cool, the two examples are not near enough.

What would be your ultimate foursome (you included)?

I've always seen that question asked but never thought for myself. If I could design a 4 some including myself, Tiger Woods obviously. Who would not want to see up close the best to ever do it? Ernie Els, he was my favorite golfer growing up. Nobody ever made it look more effortless or beautiful to me. Finally, I may go off the rails here a bit. Dave Chappelle. If I were in that 4 some I wouldn't even need to get in the way and play, I could be thoroughly entertained by the funniest man on the planet and watch the 2 guys I grew up watching the most up close. That would be a pretty good day.

Related to golfing, what is there about you that nobody really knows?

That's a hard question, what don't people know. Golf related, they don't know I will hold out as long as possible before my daughters beat me. That will be a happy and sad day. I have time.. (4.5 years and 9 months)

With our Midwest golf season of 7 months, do you ever get to warmer climates to play golf in the other 5 months?

I do not travel, or at least have not gone for any winter trips since I started at UPS 8 years ago. Our busy season, Thanksgiving-Mid January no vacation time allowed. It's hard for me to not use the weeks I have around the important events on my golf calender year. I am fortunate to be good friends with Morningside golf coach Nick Wanderscheid. That friendship allows for some golf mentorship and some practice periodically throughout the winter months. I would absolutely attribute some of my last year's success to those golf sessions last winter.

In the Siouxland area, amongst all golf courses, what is your favorite:

a. Par 3 Hole

I struggled with this one the most, I keep landing on #8 at Cherokee. 120 yards, a little downhill. Some sort of wedge to a small target, long is dead and if you don't control the spin you are ripping it off the front down the hill. If you need a birdie, here's your chance.. if too aggressive, nice bogey.

b. Par 4 Hole

#5 at Dakota Dunes, need 2 very good shots to have a chance at par. Any miss left or right on the tee shot or approach just be happy with a bogey. If the pin is in the back, good luck. Great demanding hole with a very specific request. Hit the ball where you are aiming.

c. Par 5 Hole

I'm not sure if this is trendy or not, but #3 at Floyd. Great par 5, left ob, right you are walking down a steep hill. Even a good drive might require some shot-making around the lone tree on top to a small sloped green with trouble all around. Anything could happen there.

Who/What was the primary influence for you to play golf?

Very simple, my Dad. He taught my older sisters and I probably about 6 at the time and we would often head out during the evenings to attempt the game. That was great and all but eventually I wanted to be good enough to play on the weekend mornings with him and not be the holdup. The real goal in middle school was to practice all day so I could beat him. He was a low single digit at that time and somewhere around the summer going into 8th grade I beat him. That's about the time when golf became my number 1 obsession.