Player Profile Archives
• Fall 2006 - Player Profiles
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| Ben Westley Age 16 Minneapolis, MN |
Junior Golf Highlights/Accomplishments:
Ben was the winner of the 2006 Players’ Tour Match Play Championship. In 2004 he won the 14 and Under AAU National Championship. This year at the MN Westfield Junior PGA Championship he shot 69-74 to take fourth place in the 16-18 year old division. The last five years he has won the Junior Bronze at Hiawatha GC. Ben has won the Minneapolis Conference playing for South High the last three years.
Most Memorable experience(s) that occurred while participating in a Minnesota PGA Junior Event:
Watching Will Wahlers hit a sparrow out of mid-air in one of my first events and winning the 2006 Players’ Tour Match Play Championship at Dacotah Ridge.
What are some tips/advice that you would recommend to other juniors to help them with their game?
It doesn’t matter how far you hit the ball. What matters is your score. Don’t let longer hitting opponents psych you out. Stick to your own game plan and you will have more fun.
Additional Activities/Hobbies:
Trumpet, chillin’ with friends and hockey.
Favorite Professional Golfer: Luke Donald
Favorite Food: Steak
Favorite Music: Rap
Favorite Movie: Gladiator
Favorite T.V. Show: Family Guy
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| Nick Kuchera Age 12 Eagan, MN |
Junior Golf Highlights/Accomplishments:
Winning the 2006 MN Westfield Junior 12 and Under Championship in a 3-hole playoff. He has had three wins and 12 top three finishes while playing on the Beginners’ and Transition Tours. Also he has had a lot of fun, learned many new rules and made new friends while playing in the MN Junior PGA program.
Most Memorable experience(s) that occurred while participating in a Minnesota PGA Junior Event:
Being able to play Hazeltine National GC during the Celebration of Amateur Golf Day and having my grandfather caddy for me. Also making birdies that day on holes 14 and 17.
What are some tips/advice that you would recommend to other juniors to help them with their game?
When I get a piece of advice from a knowledgeable teacher I practice until I am good at it. I also like making practice sessions fun by hitting different types of shots and playing games against my brother and friends.
Additional Activities/Hobbies:
I like playing hockey and baseball in addition to golf. I also enjoy hanging out with friends, fishing and spending time on the lake tubing, skiing and wakeboarding.
Favorite Professional Golfer: Tom Lehman
Favorite Food: Cheese curds/Pizza
Favorite Music: Rock/Rap/Country
Favorite Movie: Little Man
Favorite T.V. Show: Spongebob
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| Kyle Lewis Age 18 Forest Lake, MN |
Junior Golf Highlights/Accomplishments:
Kyle was the winner of the 2006 Players’ Cup Ages 16-18 with a score of 66 at National Youth Golf Center. Kyle started on the Junior Tour for two years and won a handful of events. 2006 was his first year on the Players’ Tour and he started off a little shaky but brought it around keeping his last five Players’ Tour tournaments at 75 or better. This year for high school he had All-Conference honors, took third in the Section and went to the Class AA State Tournament.
Most Memorable experience(s) that occurred while participating in a Minnesota PGA Junior Event:
At the 2006 Players’ Cup my putter was on fire with 24 putts, nine birdies and six of those birdies in seven holes. I shot my tournament low with a 66 and won the Players’ Cup by five strokes.
What are some tips/advice that you would recommend to other juniors to help them with their game?
1/4 of practice should be on the range, 3/4 chipping and putting. If you miss every green in regulation, but you can get up and down from everywhere your worst score would be par.
Additional Activities/Hobbies:
Kyle is Forest Lake’s Varsity Soccer goalie and during the winter he likes to snowmobile and snowboard. During the summer he likes to spend time on the lake, but it’s mostly golf, golf, golf!
Favorite Professional Golfer: Funk’s Drive, Sergio’s irons and Tiger’s putter
Favorite Food: Cheeseburger Pizza
Favorite Music: Old Rock (Metallica), Ska (Reel Big Fish)
Favorite Movie: Tommy Boy
Favorite T.V. Show: Family Guy
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| Nathan Anderson Age 15 Oxbow, ND |
Junior Golf Highlights/Accomplishments:
Nathan was the winner of the 2006 Players’ Cup Ages 13-15 at Pebble Creek GC. He won the Fargo-Moorhead Junior All-City in 2004 and 2005. Also in 2005 he was the Men’s All-City Champion. He took seventh place at the Pepsi Little People’s in Quincy, Illinois in 2004. This past summer he was the runner-up in the North Dakota State Men’s Stroke Play and he won the Pepsi Junior Masters in Illinois. Nathan also placed first in the MN Westfield Junior PGA Championship 13-15 division.
Most Memorable experience(s) that occurred while participating in a Minnesota PGA Junior Event:
Winning the 2006 Players’ Cup Ages 13-15 in Becker, MN.
What are some tips/advice that you would recommend to other juniors to help them with their game?
Practice your short game often. You will improve your score by a ton by just being able to get up and down.
Additional Activities/Hobbies:
Hunting and Fishing.
Favorite Professional Golfer: Phil Mickelson
Favorite Food: Pizza
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| Samantha Sommers Age 17 St. Cloud, MN |
Junior Golf Highlights/Accomplishments:
Samantha was the 2006 Players’ Tour Player of the Year and the winner of the Players’ Tour Tournament of Champions. In 2006 she played in both the MN/WI Junior Cup Matches and the MN/Manitoba Cup Matches. She has won back to back Class “AA’ State Girls Golf Tournaments and took 2nd place in the MWGA Junior Girls Tournament this past summer. Sam won four Players’ Tour Series "A" Tournaments in 2006.
Most Memorable experience(s) that occurred while participating in a Minnesota PGA Junior Event:
Meeting people that I would have never met and becoming good friends with them.
What are some tips/advice that you would recommend to other juniors to help them with their game?
Work hard on your short game, especially putting, the harder you work the more you feel accomplished.
Additional Activities/Hobbies:
Soccer, music, running, friends and road trips.
Favorite Professional Golfer: Sergio Garcia
Favorite Food: Anything Mexican
Favorite Music: Anything
Favorite Movie: Caddyshack
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| Sara Detlefsen Age 13 Eagan, MN |
Junior Golf Highlights/Accomplishments:
Sara is the 2006 MN Westfield Junior PGA 12 and Under Champion. She got two hole-in-ones just one month apart this summer. Last year she played in the Doral/Publix National Championship. It was fun because she got to meet the National Champions from Ireland and Italy. This year she played in the USGA Girls Qualifier and got to have a caddy for the first time.
Most Memorable experience(s) that occurred while participating in a Minnesota PGA Junior Event:
One of my hole-in-ones was during the practice round for the MN Westfield Junior PGA 12 and Under Championship at Begin Oaks.
What are some tips/advice that you would recommend to other juniors to help them with their game?
If you have a bad shot or hole, put it behind you and focus on your next shot. I have learned from my brother and sister it you want to get good at golf you need to practice a lot!
Additional Activities/Hobbies:
Sara loves to read, recite poems, play basketball, sail, train her new puppy and fish for King Mackerel.
Favorite Professional Golfer: Paula Creamer
Favorite Food: Italian
Favorite Music: Country
Favorite Movie: Sahara
Favorite T.V. Show: Whose Line Is It Anyway and Big Break
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| Natalie Samb Age 15 Savage, MN |
Junior Golf Highlights/Accomplishments:
Natalie was the 2006 Players’ Tour Series “B” Champion. She won three Series “B” tournaments during the summer at Austin CC, Mankato GC/LeSueur CC and Northfield GC. The MGA Junior Girls Team she played on won the team title and she tied for third individually. Natalie played on the MN/Manitoba Cup Team and the MN Team won. The girls only lost one match the entire tournament.
Most Memorable experience(s) that occurred while participating in a Minnesota PGA Junior Event:
My most memorable experience while playing in a MN PGA Junior event was when I shot 69 at LeSueur CC. It was my first time shooting in the 60’s. Everything felt perfect that day! Another memorable experience was winning Series "B" with my brother.
What are some tips/advice that you would recommend to other juniors to help them with their game?
Practice, practice and more practice. You have to keep a positive mind frame. You want to try and get a repeating swing that will give you more consistent shots. You also have to accept that every shot isn’t going to be perfect, that’s the game of golf.
Additional Activities/Hobbies:
Natalie loves to hang out with friends, go to the beach, shop and go to the movies. She also likes to play basketball, football and enjoys running and lifting weights.
Favorite Professional Golfer: Phil Mickelson
Favorite Food: Ice Cream
Favorite Music: Country, Rap, Rock
Favorite Movie: Wedding Crashers
Favorite T.V. Show: 24
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| Amy Anderson Age 14 Oxbow, ND |
Junior Golf Highlights/Accomplishments:
Amy was the winner of the 2006 Players’ Cup Ages 13-15 at Pebble Creek GC. She has won the Fargo-Moorhead Junior All-City for the past three years and in 2006 she also won the Women’s All-City Championship. In 2006 she took fourth place in the North Dakota Women’s Stroke Play Championship. She was also the 2005 Players’ Cup Ages 13-15 Champion.
Most Memorable experience(s) that occurred while participating in a Minnesota PGA Junior Event:
In 2006 my brother Nathan and I each won the Players’ Cup Ages 13-15 and we both shot a one-under par 71.
What are some tips/advice that you would recommend to other juniors to help them with their game?
Practice more than you play. Spend 70% of your practice on your short game.
Additional Activities/Hobbies:
Amy plays piano and violin. She also likes to read and hang out with friends.
Favorite Professional Golfer: Ernie Els
Favorite Food: Pizza
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