State Champion Kuenster Set for College Debut

Sept. 12, 2014

MINNEAPOLIS (GopherSports.com) - Almost as soon as she took up competitive golf, University of Minnesota freshman Celia Kuenster found her way into the spotlight - a rising-star within Minnesota amateur golf and one of the top prospects to come out of the state in recent years.

Now a member of the hometown Gophers, the two-time state champion will continue to showcase her talents at the collegiate level, starting this Monday at the Minnesota Invitational.

A Mendota Heights native, Kuenster will be the lone freshman in the Gophers' official lineup for the season opener. The Minnesota Invitational returns to the Minikahda Club for the second-straight year with seven teams coming back from last year, including defending champion Kent State. Play starts on Monday, Sept. 15 with 36 holes while the final round is set for Tuesday, Sept. 16. Admission to the tournament is free.

The Gophers finished third at last year's event - jumpstarting one of the best seasons in program history that included a win at the BYU Entrada Classic and the team's seventh NCAA postseason appearance. This year, Kuenster hopes to be a part of the team's success.

During her prep career at Cretin-Derham Hall, Kuenster posted four-straight top-five finishes at the Minnesota Class 3A state tournament including back-to-back individual state titles in 2011 and 2012. Her prep success was part of what the Star Tribune deemed the "greatest era of girls' prep golf in state history." The stiff competition was ideal for Keunster because it challenged her to continue improving.

"You had to keep getting better or else you were going to get pounded," Kuenster said.

After experimenting with other sports during her youth, Kuenster realized that her natural talent was golf in eighth grade. It didn't take long before others started to see how talented she really was.

In addition to her pair of state high school championships, Kuenster won back-to-back Minnesota Junior Girls' state titles in 2011 and 2012 and was the first high school golfer in state history to win two Minnesota Women's State Amateur Championships. During the 2011 tournament, at only 15 years old, Kuenster became the youngest player ever to win the State Amateur Championship.

"At the time, I didn't even know I was the youngest. It was pretty unbelievable," Kuenster said.

Kuenster will have her chance to revisit familiar competition at the Minnesota Invitational. Cassie Deeg, another former Minnesota state champion out of Stillwater High School, will be representing the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Often opponents, Kuenster and Deeg actually teamed up to win the 2012 Minnesota State Amateur Four-Ball Championship.

"Cassie and I are really good friends," Kuenster said. "It was always fun when we played against each other because we knew that we'd always be going toe-to-toe. That's what makes you better: having to try to beat someone who's just as good as you."

Now, participating at a tournament right in her backyard, Kuenster is excited to be surrounded by supporters. She enjoys hearing the cheers from her family and friends to keep her spirits up. A sizeable contingency of family, friends and supporters is expected for her collegiate debut at the Minikahda Club.

"I like having people out there," Kuenster said. "You almost feel like you're putting on a show. You want to perform for people who are out there watching for you."

As for her career with the Gophers, Kuenster has high expectations for herself. Playing well and refining her skills are not the only two goals she has in mind.

"I'd like to be able to step up in some of the big tournaments," she said. "I hope to make a big impact on the team."

Story written by Lexi Diederich

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