University of Minnesota Athletics
Get to Know: Charlie Duensing
2/5/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
Feb. 5, 2015
Gopher Sports: What made you choose the University of Minnesota over other schools?
GS: Has your freshman year been what you were hoping for so far?
GS: How is the Minnesota weather compared to your home state of Utah?
GS: What are some of your favorite golf courses in the area so far?
GS: What were your experiences in the 2012 and '13 PGA Junior Championships like?
GS: What professional golfers do you look up to?
GS: Do you have any interesting superstitions related to your game?
GS: What do you like to do off the golf course?
GS: If you get some time to relax with a little Netflix, what do you turn on?
GS: Are you already thinking about your March Madness bracket?
Charlie Duensing (Sandy, Utah) has just played in one tournament so far this season, but is hoping for some big things this spring. GopherSports.com caught up with the freshman to learn a little more about him and to talk about his time in Minnesota so far.
Gopher Sports: What made you choose the University of Minnesota over other schools?
Charlie Duensing: Out of the places I was looking at, it had the best program. Minnesota just won the Big Ten last year and really competes consistently well. I really like Coach Carlson and I think he does a great job of running the program. I just felt out of all the places I had looked at, this is where I could maximize my potential.
GS: Has your freshman year been what you were hoping for so far?
CD: Fall was pretty rough and not the easiest transition, but Coach Carlson has really helped me with my game. So I'm really looking forward to this spring because I think there are some great things to come.
GS: How is the Minnesota weather compared to your home state of Utah?
CD: It's pretty similar actually. In Utah, we get two weeks on each side of the winter that I can play outdoors there. We probably get more snow out in Utah, but it doesn't get nearly as cold or windy. Other than that, they're really not too different.
GS: What are some of your favorite golf courses in the area so far?
CD: I got to play some great ones this fall. I really enjoyed Interlachen the most. Wayzata Country Club and Minneapolis Golf Club were both great. Everywhere we get to play is a pretty top-notch club, so I can't really complain about any of them.
GS: What were your experiences in the 2012 and '13 PGA Junior Championships like?
CD: It was cool to play against the best in the world. It was just a different feeling with a little more adrenaline to get the competitive juices flowing a little more. That experience has helped me here so far, competing against the guys on the team. For the first couple tournaments I played in, it was overwhelming, but I ended up playing in quite a few as time went on. Towards the end, I was a bit more comfortable and had more experience.
GS: What professional golfers do you look up to?
CD: I want to say Tiger Woods in his prime would be my all-time favorite and always will be. Right now though, I'd say Rory McIlroy, who is just incredible. Adam Scott, Brooks Koepka, who just won last week and Jordan Spieth. I like all the younger guys right now, so it's hard to pick just one favorite.
GS: Do you have any interesting superstitions related to your game?
CD: Yeah I actually do have a couple. I always mark my ball with a quarter and it has to be heads-up. I've marked my ball the same way since I was 11 years old, with an orange dot over the number. The first time I did that, I shot my first under-par round ever and shot 66, so ever since then, it just stuck.
GS: What do you like to do off the golf course?
CD: Mostly just hanging out with friends and relaxing. I'm a pretty laid back guy and will just do whatever. I really love the outdoors too. Back in Utah, I really enjoyed hiking and I skied a lot there also.
GS: If you get some time to relax with a little Netflix, what do you turn on?
CD: I actually don't have Netflix. If I do turn on the TV, it's usually "SportsCenter" because I love all sports. College basketball is probably my favorite to turn on right now and I love keeping up with the University of Utah.
GS: Are you already thinking about your March Madness bracket?
CD: A little bit actually. I think Kentucky is the favorite by far, but we'll see. I always hope for upsets to keep things interesting.
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