2003 Minnesota Junior Golf Association Player Profile Archives
• Fall 2003 - Player Profiles
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| Josh Whalen Age 18 Elk River, MN |
Junior Golf Highlights/Accomplishments:
Josh was the 2003 Players' Tour Series "A" Boys Champion. He placed 1st in Series "A" events at Moorhead and the two-day at The Pines/Preserve. Josh has been a member of the Elk River Varsity Boys golf team for five years and has been All-Conference four times, a three-time All-State selection and has had two appearances in the Class AA State Tournament. In 2002 Josh was runner-up in the MGA State Junior Boys and participated in the Minnesota/Manitoba Matches. In 1998 Josh was also a part of the team in the first year of the Minnesota/Wisconsin Junior Cup Matches
Most Memorable experience(s) that occurred while participating in a Minnesota PGA Junior Event:
"Winning in a playoff at the Mid-Summer Classis when I was 12 years old. Being Players of the Year for Series "A" and having fun-times on the golf course."
What are some tips/advice that you would recommend to other juniors to help them with their game?
"Work on your mind game and take advantage of the par 5's."
Additional Activities/Hobbies:
Josh enjoys playing hockey, mowing the lawn and hunting. He also likes to ride around town on his scooter and hangin out with the ladies.
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| Paul Sjoberg Age 16 Thief River Falls, MN |
Junior Golf Highlights/Accomplishments:
Paul was the 2003 Players' Tour Series "B" Boys Champion. He placed 1st in Series "A" events at North Oaks and the two-day at Northland/Nemadji. He was a semifinalist at the 2003 Players' Tour Match Play Championship and tied for fifth place at the Minnesota State Junior Boys. He qualified for the USGA Junior Amateur at Columbia CC in Chevy Chase, Md and was a member of the Minnesota/Manitoba Cup team and earned 3 points for his team.
Most Memorable experience(s) that occurred while participating in a Minnesota PGA Junior Event:
"At North Oaks after making double bogey on the first hole I made four birdies in a row. Also at the Match Play Championship after being four down through 10 holes getting back to even with four birdies and lost on the 20th hole."
What are some tips/advice that you would recommend to other juniors to help them with their game?
"Never give up - fight back after bad holes. Practice your short game and know the rules of golf for situations where you may need them."
Additional Activities/Hobbies:
Paul plays basketball, enjoys weight lifting, working out and hunting. He is also involved in church youth activities and school choir.
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| Jon Sauer Age 17 St. Cloud, MN |
Junior Golf Highlights/Accomplishments:
Jon was the overall winner of the 2003 Minnesota Westfield Junior PGA Championship and went on to represent the MN Section at the national championship in Ohio. He finished 2nd at a Players' Tour event in Series "C" at St. Croix National. In 2002 Jon was the Players' Tour Series "C" Champion and also finished in 4th place in Players' Tour Player of the Year point standings. He participated in the 2001 OIJGC in Palm Beach Gardens, FL and has been the St. Cloud Country Club Junior Champion the past five years.
Most Memorable experience(s) that occurred while participating in a Minnesota PGA Junior Event:
"Representing Minnesota at the 2003 National Westfield Junior PGA Championship in Ohio was the greatest experience I've ever had playing golf. Also, playing for team Minnesota in the 2003 Minnesota/Wisconsin and Minnesota/Manitoba Junior Cup Matches was fun as well."
What are some tips/advice that you would recommend to other juniors to help them with their game?
"Everyone says this, but practice your short game. Once you have the confidence to be able to get up and down from anywhere around the greens that is where you start to score better. Don't get upset when you hit bad shots. Even your best rounds involve missed putts and poor shots, you just have to block it out and keep grinding."
Additional Activities/Hobbies:
Jon likes hanging out with friends, playing pool and bowling. He is also in the Academic Top 10 percent of his graduating class.
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| Clinton Dammann Age 17 Glencoe, MN |
Junior Golf Highlights/Accomplishments:
Clinton was the 2003 Players' Tour Series "C" Boys Champion. He finished in first place at the Series "C" two-day event at Mankato/LeSueur and was in the top 10 in every event in Series "C". In high school golf he was the All-Conference Champion for the second consecutive year and also qualified for the state meet for the third consecutive year. During 2003 he also played in the Northwoods Collegiate Tourney in Alexandria and played in the Players' Tour Tournament of Champions.
Most Memorable experience(s) that occurred while participating in a Minnesota PGA Junior Event:
"Winning the two-day Players' Tour tournament at Mankato and LeSueur."
What are some tips/advice that you would recommend to other juniors to help them with their game?
"PRACTICE! And when you practice, practice to get better. Make sure you work on fundamentals and golf a lot!"
Additional Activities/Hobbies:
Other school activities Clinton participates in are cross-country and basketball. He enjoys fishing and hunting with friends and also water sports, downhill skiing and snowmobiling.
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| Laura Taylor Age 15 Woodbury, MN |
Junior Golf Highlights/Accomplishments:
Laura was the 2003 Players' Tour Series "B" Girls Champion. She took 2nd place in two Series "B" events at St. Croix National and the two-day Northland/Nemadji event. Laura participated in the PGA Junior Series event in Layton, Utah and took 2nd place in her age division. Another Junior Golf highlight for 2003 was participating in the Minnesota/Wisconsin Junior Cup Matches. One of her big accomplishments was being invited to play in the Players' Tour Tournament of Champions.
Most Memorable experience(s) that occurred while participating in a Minnesota PGA Junior Event:
"My most memorable experience was being the 2003 Players' Tour Series "B" Champion, I was not expecting it at all and it was really exciting."
What are some tips/advice that you would recommend to other juniors to help them with their game?
"Always have a healthy snack on the golf course with you when you play. It will help keep your energy up. Another tip is practice as much as you can; it can all pay off in the end."
Additional Activities/Hobbies:
Laura loves playing golf with her dad who got her started playing the game.
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| Katie Detlefsen Age 14 Eagan, MN |
Junior Golf Highlights/Accomplishments:
Katie was the overall winner of the 2003 Minnesota Westfield Junior PGA Championship and went on to represent the MN Section at the national championship in Ohio. She also won three Players' Tour Series "C" events at Indian Hills, Stonebrooke and Mississippi National. Also in 2003 Katie was the Wisconsin Optimist Qualifier Girls' medallist and won the MWGA Junior Girls State Championship. She took 2nd place at the 2003 USGA Junior Girls' Qualifier and 4th place at the AJGA Nike Junior All Star Classic. Katie was a member of the 2003 winning teams for the Minnesota/Wisconsin Cup Matches and also the Minnesota/Manitoba Cup Matches. She has earned MVP and All-Conference awards for her high school team in seventh and eighth grades and also earned All-State award honors in 2003. In 2002 she was the AAU National Champion.
Most Memorable experience(s) that occurred while participating in a Minnesota PGA Junior Event:
"My most memorable Minnesota PGA Junior event was the Match Play tournament at Cragun's last year. After winning my first match my brother, Erik, got to caddy me. It was an exciting match and having him there made it a lot of fun for both of us."
What are some tips/advice that you would recommend to other juniors to help them with their game?
In the words of the world's number one golf coach, David Leadbetter, "Whatever your ambitions in this game may be, unless you are prepared to invest a certain amount of time on the practice range, golf will continue to get the better of you."
Additional Activities/Hobbies:
Katie like playing basketball, reading, fishing and spending time with friends. She also enjoys watching movies, listening to music and being involved in her church groups.
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| Rachael Schmidt Age 16 Elk River, MN |
Junior Golf Highlights/Accomplishments:
Rachael was the 2003 Players' Tour Series "A" Girls Champion. She won a Series "B" event at Ridges at Sand Creek with a score of 73, took 2nd place at Edinburgh with a score of 80 and also had two 3rd place finishes. Since 7th grade she has been a member of the Elk River Varsity Girls Golf team. Some of her achievements include 3-time All-Conference, 2-time All-State and 2-time participant in the Class AA State Tournament. At the 2003 Women's State Open she placed ninth with an 85-76 and it gave her the chance to play with experienced players. She also took ninth place at the MWGA Junior Girls tournament.
Most Memorable experience(s) that occurred while participating in a Minnesota PGA Junior Event:
"My most memorable experience happened this year when I shot my low score of 73 at Ridges at Sand Creek. I didn't think I could go that low until I had my great day there."
What are some tips/advice that you would recommend to other juniors to help them with their game?
"To always take your time and play your best and never give up because good things will eventually happen."
Additional Activities/Hobbies:
Rachael likes to go up to her cabin and swim, jet ski and tube. She also plays volleyball and her most favorite activity is playing golf with her two sisters Rochelle and Maria.
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| Lauren Helmer Age 16 Deephaven, MN |
Junior Golf Highlights/Accomplishments:
Lauren was the 2003 Players' Tour Series "C" Girls Champion. She placed 2nd in Series "C" events at Rochester and the two-day at Mankato/LeSueur. She also finished in 3rd place in the Players' Tour Player of the Year standings with 620 points. Lauren has been a member of the Minnetonka High School Varsity golf team since the 7th grade and earned All-Conference honors in 8-10th grades. In 2001 Lauren won the 12-13 year old Players' Cup.
Most Memorable experience(s) that occurred while participating in a Minnesota PGA Junior Event:
"The most memorable experience for me was meeting so many nice and fun people."
What are some tips/advice that you would recommend to other juniors to help them with their game?
"Some advice I have for other juniors would have to be that the most important part of the game is chipping and putting. Practice your short game the most because that is where you are going to score."
Additional Activities/Hobbies:
Other than golf Lauren plays basketball, mentors Sunday school at church and enjoys babysitting and traveling.
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