University of Minnesota Athletics
Get To Know: Thomas Longbella
9/22/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
Thomas Longbella found himself in the Gophers' lineup immediately in his college career. He has finished as one of Minnesota's top three scorers in both tournaments.
The freshman sat down with GopherSports to talk about his college golf experience, his favorite courses and more.
GopherSports: You played in the team's lineup the first two tournaments of the year. What has that been like in your transition to college golf?
Thomas Longbella: It's been really fun. It's been really different to be part of a good team. It's been fun to play with a lot of the upperclassmen, just kind of learn the role of college golf.
GS: Coach Carlson said Inverness was one of his favorite trips since he's been a coach. What did you think was so great about this trip?
TL: I think the guys that we brought all have really good chemistry together. We had an overall fun time and everything went smoothly. Then we got to play a really awesome golf course the day before the tournament. We had a good time and we played well.
GS: Did you know any of your teammates well before you came here?
TL: I knew of them. I met them here and there and played with them in tournaments. Not really on a first name basis, it was just kind of knew their names.
GS: What are the main reasons that you chose to come to the University of Minnesota?
TL: I really liked the school and I really liked Coach Carlson and Coach Smith. I didn't really know a lot of guys on the team but when I did meet them they seemed like super nice guys so it seemed easy. A lot of my family lives here so it's kind of nice to be close them and I'm only an hour and a half away from my house so that's also nice.
GS: What are some of your favorite golf courses that you have played in your lifetime?
TL: Honestly this last weekend we played Oakland Hills Golf Club and they have hosted a bunch of U.S. Opens, a Ryder Cup and U.S. Am. It was a really awesome course with a lot of great views. Other than that I would say Windsong is one of my favorite courses. That's an awesome place. I haven't gotten to play too many places just because our season just started but the course we played for the tournament last week (Inverness) was also a great course.
GS: Do you have a favorite club in your bag?
TL: I would say my favorite club is probably my driver.
GS: Do you keep anything else interesting in your golf bag?
TL: Not really, my golf bag is pretty standard. Maybe some ibuprofen.
GS: You guys are planning on going to the Ryder Cup as a team. Do you have any predictions for what's going to happen in the Ryder Cup?
TL: I'm hoping that they'll pick Tiger Woods for the last pick. That'd be awesome but I don't know if that'll happen. Other than that it'd be sweet to see the U.S. win but that hasn't happened the last few years.
GS: Being from Wisconsin, did you have any rooting interest in the Vikings/Packers rivalry game this past weekend?
TL: Yeah, I'm actually a Vikings fan. I'm actually the only kid in my family who was born in Wisconsin. I have always been raised as a Vikings fan. My parents were both born in Minnesota so they were Vikings fans. It was awesome to see the Vikings win.
GS: Do you know what you are planning to major in or other things you would be interested in studying?
TL: I'm undeclared right now, but I have my sights set on a business and marketing degree. I'm not sure if I want to transfer into Carlson or not yet. We will see how golf goes.
GS: Do you have anything that you like to do off the course or any other talents outside of golf?
TL: I would say that my main talent outside of golf is playing ping pong. I love ping pong. I also like to wake-surf. I did that a lot this summer and got good at that. I played hockey growing up. I wasn't amazing obviously because I picked golf but it was still fun.
GS: Are you going to get any ping pong games going against your teammates?
TL: Yeah, for sure. A lot of the guys are really good. Jose is really good.
