University of Minnesota Athletics
Men's Head Golf Coach Brad James
7/15/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
Q: How good of a golfer must a U of M student be to be considered for recruitment? Is there also an open walk-on tournament at some point every year?
Jon
Dellwood, Minn.
A: There are walk on try-outs during the 1st week of September. You do need to send a resume in to be invited. We are typically looking at players who have played in National and State events. Such as the State Open, State Am, US Am.
Q: Could you outline the process of receiving a scholarship at Minnesota?
Leonie
Townsville, Queensland, Australia
A: I am from Cairns, Australia so I know your area well. First thing is to take the SAT exam, that is the American entrance exam. We are looking at kids from Australia who play on the state teams and compete on the National level.
Q: I teach balance to athletes in golf. Has the U of M Golf Team ever tried to incorporate other teachers into its training?
Matt
Minneapolis, Minn.
A: Typically the athletic department likes to keep the work inside the department. We do incorporate balance work with the team workouts.
Q: Coach, why do you feel ex-Gopher James McLean has struggled so much on the PGA tour?
Chris
Hudson, Wis.
A: Sometimes it takes a while for a young golfer to feel like they belong. James has also struggled with his putting. A part of his game he really needs to work on. James is a great player and I think as time goes by we will see him on top of some leader boards. He is the most talented individual I have ever seen hit golf balls!
Q: What do you think of Minnesota high school golfers. How well would an all Minnesota grown golf team do in the Big Ten and National Stage? What kind of ratio of Minnesota to non-Minnesota golf athletes do you think is needed to field a top team?
Jerry
Mankato, Minn.
A: Great question! Minnesota golf has improved dramatically over the last couple of years. Five years ago you could not find 10 golfers with national experience and games good enough for Division I. Now you can find 20. An all-Minnesota team would not be able to compete on the national level. Most of the best teams in the country with the best weather have over half the team with older and more experienced international players. Last year Oklahoma State had one American player on the team. We won the National Championship with 2 Minnesota kids. As a percentage I would say 60% in order to compete on the national level. Right now we have 7 of the 11 from MN. It typically takes about 1-2 years for the best MN kid to be able to compete at the national level. I would love to have an all MN team. It would make all our lives much easier. But it's difficult to compete at the National level. You would not be able to compete in the Big Ten either. Purdue did not have an American player two years ago when they finished 3rd at the Big Tens. The competition is tough.
Q: Who is the hardest working player on the team? Who has the most talent?
Mike
Mora, Minn.
A: Hardest worker would be Peter Anderson
Most talented Clayton Rask
Biggest desire to win Justin Smith and Coach James
Q: Where will the golf team go this spring to practice for the upcoming season?
Mel
Mound, Minn.
A: We will play in Phoenix at Tonte Verde G.C
Q: Coach James, I live in Falcon Heights and used to enjoy coming out to the Les Bolstad course to watch the team play. Will you have any tournaments there anymore?
Roger
Falcon Heights, Minn.
A: No the golf course is too short for the college players of today.
Q: How hard was it to replace a successful coach who built up a respectable program in terms of competition?
Pete
Glenwood City, Wis.
A: Not hard as long as the new coach understands the big picture and has some good contacts with other coaches.
Q: How good of a golfer must a U of M student be to be considered for recruitment? Is there also an open walk-on tournament at some point every year?
Jon
Dellwood, Minn.
A: There are walk on try-outs during the 1st week of September. You do need to send a resume in to be invited. We are typically looking at players who have played in National and State events. Such as the State Open, State Am, US Am.
Q: Could you outline the process of receiving a scholarship at Minnesota?
Leonie
Townsville, Queensland, Australia
A: I am from Cairns, Australia so I know your area well. First thing is to take the SAT exam, that is the American entrance exam. We are looking at kids from Australia who play on the state teams and compete on the National level.
Q: I teach balance to athletes in golf. Has the U of M Golf Team ever tried to incorporate other teachers into its training?
Matt
Minneapolis, Minn.
A: Typically the athletic department likes to keep the work inside the department. We do incorporate balance work with the team workouts.
Q: Coach, why do you feel ex-Gopher James McLean has struggled so much on the PGA tour?
Chris
Hudson, Wis.
A: Sometimes it takes a while for a young golfer to feel like they belong. James has also struggled with his putting. A part of his game he really needs to work on. James is a great player and I think as time goes by we will see him on top of some leader boards. He is the most talented individual I have ever seen hit golf balls!
Q: What do you think of Minnesota high school golfers. How well would an all Minnesota grown golf team do in the Big Ten and National Stage? What kind of ratio of Minnesota to non-Minnesota golf athletes do you think is needed to field a top team?
Jerry
Mankato, Minn.
A: Great question! Minnesota golf has improved dramatically over the last couple of years. Five years ago you could not find 10 golfers with national experience and games good enough for Division I. Now you can find 20. An all-Minnesota team would not be able to compete on the national level. Most of the best teams in the country with the best weather have over half the team with older and more experienced international players. Last year Oklahoma State had one American player on the team. We won the National Championship with 2 Minnesota kids. As a percentage I would say 60% in order to compete on the national level. Right now we have 7 of the 11 from MN. It typically takes about 1-2 years for the best MN kid to be able to compete at the national level. I would love to have an all MN team. It would make all our lives much easier. But it's difficult to compete at the National level. You would not be able to compete in the Big Ten either. Purdue did not have an American player two years ago when they finished 3rd at the Big Tens. The competition is tough.
Q: Who is the hardest working player on the team? Who has the most talent?
Mike
Mora, Minn.
A: Hardest worker would be Peter Anderson
Most talented Clayton Rask
Biggest desire to win Justin Smith and Coach James
Q: Where will the golf team go this spring to practice for the upcoming season?
Mel
Mound, Minn.
A: We will play in Phoenix at Tonte Verde G.C
Q: Coach James, I live in Falcon Heights and used to enjoy coming out to the Les Bolstad course to watch the team play. Will you have any tournaments there anymore?
Roger
Falcon Heights, Minn.
A: No the golf course is too short for the college players of today.
Q: How hard was it to replace a successful coach who built up a respectable program in terms of competition?
Pete
Glenwood City, Wis.
A: Not hard as long as the new coach understands the big picture and has some good contacts with other coaches.
