SportsMay 16, 2016
Meet the area's golf state qualifiers
Times at state/best finish: Two/18th If you're a senior, plans for next year: Golf in college Best tournament score this year, where: 71 at Kimbeland Country Club Age you started golfing: 4 Who taught you how to golf? Jim Davey Favorite course you've played and why: Plantations Golf Club in South Carolina. Good layout...
Southeast Missourian
Hunter Asher, sr., Jackson
Times at state/best finish: Two/18th
If you're a senior, plans for next year: Golf in college
Best tournament score this year, where: 71 at Kimbeland Country Club
Age you started golfing: 4
Who taught you how to golf? Jim Davey
Favorite course you've played and why: Plantations Golf Club in South Carolina. Good layout.
Most memorable shot this year: Still to come
What's the strongest part of your game? Ball striking
What area of your game needs the most improvement? Short game
Favorite club in your bag? 7-iron
On what course would you play your dream round of golf? Augusta National
A day on the course with any three golfers. Who would you choose? Ronald Reagan, Phil Hager, John Daly
Favorite professional golfer: Tiger Woods
Favorite sport other than golf: Eight-ball pool
How is golf like life? They both challenge you to be your best
Par for 18 holes or a hole-in-one? Shooting 59
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Case Englehart, fresh., Jackson
Times at state/best finish: First time
Best tournament score this year, where: 76 at Kimbeland Country Club
Age you started golfing: 8
Who taught you how to golf? My dad
Favorite course you've played and why: Fox Run. It's hard and makes you hit good shots to score.
Most memorable shot this year: Chipping in out of the rough at Fox Run
What's the strongest part of your game? It's pretty well rounded
What area of your game needs the most improvement? Everything could get better
Favorite club in your bag? Driver
On what course would you play your dream round of golf? Augusta National
A day on the course with any three golfers. Who would you choose? Rickie Fowler, my dad, "Uncle" Hunter Asher
Favorite professional golfer: Jordan Spieth
Favorite sport other than golf: Basketball
How is golf like life? It's hard and keeps you humble
Par for 18 holes or a hole-in-one? Hole-in-one
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Nate Hulshof, fresh., Notre Dame
Times at state/best finish: First time
Best tournament score this year, where: 79 at Kimbeland CC in Jackson
Age you started golfing: 6
Who taught you how to golf? Myself
Favorite course you've played and why: Crown Point CC because it was a very pretty course
Most memorable shot this year: My 30-foot putt for birdie on Hole 18 at Kimbeland to break 80
What's the strongest part of your game? I don't really have a strong point; it's pretty even
What area of your game needs the most improvement? Striking the ball
Favorite club in your bag? 56-degree Cleveland wedge
On what course would you play your dream round of golf? TPC Sawgrass
A day on the course with any three golfers. Who would you choose? Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Gary Player
Favorite professional golfer: Adam Scott
Favorite sport other than golf: Don't have one
How is golf like life? It's frustrating
Par for 18 holes or a hole-in-one? Hole-in-one
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Jonathan Bell, jr., Notre Dame
Times at state/best finish: One/13th
Best tournament score this year, where: 71 at Kimbeland
Age you started golfing: 7
Who taught you how to golf? Dad
Favorite course you've played and why: Bent Creek because it's my home course
Most memorable shot this year: I made albatross on a par 5 at Bent Creek
What's the strongest part of your game? Putting
What area of your game needs the most improvement? Chipping
Favorite club in your bag? Driver
On what course would you play your dream round of golf? Augusta National
A day on the course with any three golfers. Who would you choose? Tiger Woods, Arnold Palmer and Rory McIlroy
Favorite professional golfer: Tiger Woods
Favorite sport other than golf: Football
How is golf like life? If you work hard you will become successful
Par for 18 holes or a hole-in-one? Hole-in-one
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Caleb Schnurbusch, jr., Notre Dame
Times at state/best finish: First time
Best tournament score this year, where: 84 at districts at Farmington
Age you started golfing: Since I could walk (3 years old)
Who taught you how to golf? My dad
Favorite course you've played and why: Bent Creek, in Jackson. We play it during practice and it's our home course
Most memorable shot this year: Hitting the ball 5 feet from the hole on a par 3 in the rain
What's the strongest part of your game? Hitting my driver off the tee box
What area of your game needs the most improvement? My long iron game
Favorite club in your bag? Driver
On what course would you play your dream round of golf? Augusta National
A day on the course with any three golfers. Who would you choose? Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Rory McIlroy
Favorite professional golfer: Rory McIlroy
Favorite sport other than golf: Hockey
How is golf like life? It's fun and calming
Par for 18 holes or a hole-in-one? Hole-in-one
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Jack Litzelfelner, sr., Notre Dame
Times at state/best finish: First time
If you're a senior, plans for next year: Play golf at Cal State Monterrey Bay
Best tournament score this year, where: 5-under, AJGA St. Louis
Age you started golfing: 4 or 5
Who taught you how to golf? Dad
Favorite course you've played and why: Pebble Beach -- because it's Pebble Beach
Most memorable shot this year: Every shot
What's the strongest part of your game? Short game
What area of your game needs the most improvement? Off the tee
Favorite club in your bag? Driver
On what course would you play your dream round of golf? Pebble Beach
Favorite professional golfer: Tiger Woods
Favorite sport other than golf: Curling
Par for 18 holes or a hole-in-one? Hole-in-one
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Ben Daniel, jr., Saxony Lutheran
Times at state/best finish: Haven't qualified before
Best tournament score this year, where: 85 at Kimbeland
Age you started golfing: 5
Who taught you how to golf? My dad
Favorite course you've played and why: Dalhousie. I grew up play there, and it feels like home.
Most memorable shot this year: Putt on 16 at sectionals
What's the strongest part of your game? Not putting
What area of your game needs the most improvement? Short game
Favorite club in your bag? 8-iron
On what course would you play your dream round of golf? Augusta National
A day on the course with any three golfers. Who would you choose? My dad, my grandpa, Rory McIlroy
Favorite professional golfer: Rory McIlroy
Favorite sport other than golf: Basketball
How is golf like life? When things go bad, you decide whether or not to bounce back
Par for 18 holes or a hole-in-one? Par for 18 holes
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Olivia Voelker, fresh., Saxony Lutheran
Times at state/best finish: First time
Best tournament score this year, where: 87 at the Falls, O'Fallon, Mo.
Age you started golfing: 4
Who taught you how to golf? My dad
Favorite course you've played and why: Ozark National in Lake of the Ozarks
Most memorable shot this year: My first high school tournament at Kimbeland. My first drive of the day went straight down the fairway.
What's the strongest part of your game? My driver and long shots
What area of your game needs the most improvement? My shots from about 100 yards
Favorite club in your bag? My 5-hybrid
On what course would you play your dream round of golf? Augusta National
Favorite professional golfer: Lexi Thompson
Favorite sport other than golf: Volleyball
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Karsten Short, jr., Saxony Lutheran
Times at state/best finish: Last year/middle of the pack
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Best tournament score this year, where: 78 at Kimbeland and Ozark Ridge (Poplar Bluff)
Age you started golfing: 10
Who taught you how to golf? Dad
Favorite course you've played and why: Secession Golf Club in South Carolina because it's really nice and well kept
Most memorable shot this year: 140-yard shot right by the hole
What's the strongest part of your game? Putting
What area of your game needs the most improvement? Chipping
Favorite club in your bag? 8-iron
On what course would you play your dream round of golf? Pebble Beach
A day on the course with any three golfers. Who would you choose?: Jason Day, Tiger Woods, Drew Zieba
Favorite professional golfer: Jason Day
Favorite sport other than golf: Basketball
How is golf like life? It has its ups and downs
Par for 18 holes or a hole-in-one? Hole-in-one
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Creighton Miles, sr., Advance
Times at state/best finish: First time
If you're a senior, plans for next year: Missouri University of Science and Technology
Best tournament score this year, where: 99 at Kimbeland
Age you started golfing: 18
Who taught you how to golf? Neil Miles and Marvin Whitson
Favorite course you've played and why: Dalhousie because it's the best course around
Most memorable shot this year: My second shot on Hole 18 at sectionals that landed 3 feet from the hole to tap in for birdie
What's the strongest part of your game? My mental resilience
What area of your game needs the most improvement? My short game
Favorite club in your bag? 8-iron
On what course would you play your dream round of golf? Augusta National
A day on the course with any three golfers. Who would you choose? Jordan Spieth, Bubba Watson and someone else that plays like me to make me feel better about myself
Favorite professional golfer: Bubba Watson
Favorite sport other than golf: Baseball
How is golf like life? You only get paid if you do well
Par for 18 holes or a hole-in-one? Hole-in-one
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Carson Miles, soph., Advance
Times at state/best finish: Once/17th
Best tournament score this year, where: 81
Age you started golfing: 8
Who taught you how to golf? Dad
Favorite course you've played and why: Corales (Dominican Republic). It's the most beautiful course I've played.
Most memorable shot this year: Driving a par 4, 14 green
What's the strongest part of your game? Tee shot
What area of your game needs the most improvement? Short game
Favorite club in your bag? Driver
On what course would you play your dream round of golf? Augusta National
A day on the course with any three golfers. Who would you choose? Bobby Jones, Jack Nicklaus, my dad
Favorite professional golfer: Jack Nicklaus
Favorite sport other than golf: Basketball
How is golf like life? There's a lot of "rough" times
Par for 18 holes or a hole-in-one? Par for 18
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Spence Lorch, sr., Advance
Times at state/best finish: First time at state was sophomore year
If you're a senior, plans for next year: Going to play at Mineral Area College
Best tournament score this year, where: 80, Ozark Ridge
Age you started golfing: 6
Who taught you how to golf? My dad
Favorite course you've played and why: Dalhousie because it's one of the most beautiful around Missouri
Most memorable shot this year: Made a 70-foot putt from off the green on Hole 3 at Dalhousie
What's the strongest part of your game? Tee shots
What area of your game needs the most improvement? Approach shots
Favorite club in your bag? 9-iron
On what course would you play your dream round of golf? Augusta National
A day on the course with any three golfers. Who would you choose? Rickie Fowler, Phil Mickelson, Jordan Spieth
Favorite professional golfer: Phil Mickelson
Favorite sport other than golf: Baseball
How is golf like life? The sport has its ups and downs but it's up to you to determine how well you move on
Par for 18 holes or a hole-in-one? Hole-in-one
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Brian Whitson, sr., Advance
Times at state/best finish: Fourth trip/2nd
If you're a senior, plans for next year: Continue playing career at John A. Logan College
Best tournament score this year, where: 68 -- Poplar Bluff and Jackson
Age you started golfing: 3
Who taught you how to golf? My dad
Favorite course you've played and why: Dalhousie because it's a top-notch course
Most memorable shot this year: No. 9 at Poplar Bluff, a 9-iron off the pin
What's the strongest part of your game? My short game
What area of your game needs the most improvement? Wedge game
Favorite club in your bag?: Putter
On what course would you play your dream round of golf?: St. Andrews
A day on the course with any three golfers. Who would you choose? Jordan Spieth, Hedeki Matsuyama, Lee Trevino
Favorite professional golfer: Jordan Spieth
Favorite sport other than golf: Basketball
How is golf like life? You have to be able to manage the negatives
Par for 18 holes or a hole-in-one? Hole-in-one
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Andrew Mudd, soph., St. Vincent
Times at state/best finish: First time (my best finish has been 12th at sectionals)
Best tournament score this year, where: 90 at Oak Ridge
Age you started golfing: 13
Who taught you how to golf? My dad, originally, but he realized I'm going to need a "real" teacher, and that's how we came across Steve Heckel.
Favorite course you've played and why: Dalhousie because it's beautiful and fun to play
Most memorable shot this year: It was probably my 280-yard drive at St. Genevieve
What's the strongest part of your game? My irons
What area of your game needs the most improvement? Definitely my chipping
Favorite club in your bag? 6-iron, but I rarely get to use it
On what course would you play your dream round of golf? I'd like to golf a lot of courses, but I'd have to say Augusta National
A day on the course with any three golfers. Who would you choose? Rory McIlroy, Jason Day, Jordan Spieth
Favorite professional golfer: It's a tie between three -- Rory McIlroy, Jason Day and Jordan Spieth
Favorite sport other than golf: Basketball
How is golf like life? At one point you're doing really good and then the next you can go downhill
Par for 18 holes or a hole-in-one? Both, but probably a hole-in-one
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Kobe Franklin, sr., Cape Girardeau Central
Times at state/best finish: Third time, 10th place
If you're a senior, plans for next year: Go to Rend Lake College to play golf
Best tournament score this year, where: 71, at Kimbeland Country Club
Age you started golfing: 8
Who taught you how to golf? My dad
Favorite course you've played and why: Dalhousie, always challenging
Most memorable shot this year: 40-foot bomb on 17 for birdie at Fox Haven to secure a three-shot lead going into 18
What's the strongest part of your game? My mental game. Never too happy and never show emotional weakness.
What area of your game needs the most improvement? Consistency
Favorite club in your bag? Putter
On what course would you play your dream round of golf? Egyptian Country Club
A day on the course with any three golfers. Who would you choose? My dad, and everybody else from Egyptian Country Club
Favorite professional golfer: Deno Bankson
Favorite sport other than golf: Basketball
Par for 18 holes or a hole-in-one? Hole-in-one
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Lincoln Hunter, sr., Notre Dame
Times at state/best finish: First time
If you're a senior, plans for next year: Going to Mississippi State and major in business
Best tournament score this year, where: 81, SEMO Conference Tournament
Age you started golfing: 4
Who taught you how to golf? My father
Favorite course you've played and why: Dalhousie because it's the first course I started playing regularly and it's a really nice course. I feel I play well there.
Most memorable shot this year: At Kimbeland, No. 18, It's a par 3 and I stuck it to within 4 feet. It was a good way to end the day.
What's the strongest part of your game? Short game
What area of your game needs the most improvement? Putting
Favorite club in your bag? 7-iron
On what course would you play your dream round of golf? I'd definitely like to play Augusta National
A day on the course with any three golfers. Who would you choose? John Daly, Jordan Spieth, Bubba Watson
Favorite professional golfer: Gary Player
Favorite sport other than golf: Soccer
Par for 18 holes or a hole-in-one? Hole-in-one
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