Know the Newcomer: Alex Eickhoff

The Minnesota men's golf team welcomes two newcomers to the team for the 2020-21 season. GopherSports.com will sit down with each of them to get to know them better as they compete in their first season in the Maroon and Gold.

Up first, it's Alex Eickhoff. A native of Hillsboro, Ill., Eickhoff competed for Hillsboro High School. He finished fifth in the 2019 Illinois High School Association Class 1A State Tournament, capping a career that included four Top-10 medals at state, including a sixth-place finish as a junior and eighth in his freshman year. As a sophomore, he was named the State Journal Register's 2016-17 Prairie Boys Golfer of the Year as he finished seventh individual and led his school to a fourth-place finish.

GopherSports.com: How long have you been playing golf?
Alex Eickhoff: "I started playing when I was four or five years old and have playing competitive golf since I was eight years old."

GS: How did you get introduced to the sport?
AE: "My dad played college golf at Jacksonville University and was one of the golf pros at one of our local courses for probably a dozen years or so. That's how I was introduced.

GS: When did you realize you might be able to play at the collegiate level?
AE: "It's always been a dream of mine. For as long as I can remember I always wanted to play college golf. I would say entering high school is when it first became a real true thought."

GS: What was the recruiting process like?
AE: "Coming from a small town, I was just doing my best to get my name out there for coaches to see. I was traveling all over the country to try to play in as big of tournaments as possible and trading emails back and forth to try to get some eyes on me."

GS: When did Minnesota come into the picture?
AE: "Honestly they weren't in the picture until late last summer. I was playing in a golf tournament in Kentucky, I believe, and one of the kids I was playing with was being chauffeured around by a Gopher golf alum that had just graduated, Campbell Fisher. So he followed me around for a couple of days and he told me at the end of the two days that he was impressed with my game. I reached out to Coach Smith shortly after, and that's how we started talking."

GS: What made you decide on Minnesota?
AE: "Well, living in the north, I know how to deal with the cold. To be honest, I never had any intentions of playing golf further north than Illinois, but it's just how things worked. As soon as I got on campus I fell in love with it. The team and coaching staff, they're just one big, happy family and one that I'm very fortunate to be a part of. Plus the indoor facility is second-to-none."

GS: What's been your impression of the Mooty Practice Facility?
AE: "So right now the indoor is closed due to COVID, but we're allowed to use the outdoor facility. I've been inside the indoor, though, and it's phenomenal. I can't wait to use it."

GS: How has your transition to college been?
AE: "It's been different, not what I was expecting. I mean everything is online right now, at least for me anyway. But being a college athlete I don't mind it being online. I can sign in and do my work whenever I want throughout the day as long as I get it done before the deadline. So that makes it really easy for time management when going to practice or workouts. If anything, it's made the transition go a little slower and easier, especially with our fall season being cancelled. I can make the transition more at my speed."

GS: Has there been anyone in particular on the team who has taken you under their wing and helped you out?
AE: "When I went on my official visit last fall I was able to stay in the dorm with the two freshmen (Harrison Arnold and Connor Glynn). So they've taken me and Ben (Warian) under their wings."

GS: What would you say is the strongest part of your game?
AE: "I would say typically it's driving. I would say I'm quite a long hitter off the tee and, for the most part, I hit it pretty straight, so that extra distance and accuracy would typically give me an advantage. But now entering college where everyone hits the long ball, it's different from what I'm used to."

GS: What areas are you hoping to improve on?
AE: "Yeah, my short game, especially around the greens is 100 percent my focus right now."

GS: Have you seen anything from Coach Smith or Coach Rachey yet where you feel they'll be able to help you with that short game?
AE: "Well unfortunately, we haven't been able to have any in-person practice or instruction yet. But I've talked to my teammates about short game practice and they say that Justin is a wizard around the green, so he can definitely help out with that."

Off the Course with Alex
Favorite golf course: Torrey Pines
Course you haven't played that you want to: Augusta National
Favorite club: Driver
Most memorable golf moment: Going to the state championship with my high school team. That was pretty special for us because we hadn't been to state in a long time.
Favorite pro golfer: To be honest, it changes weekly, but if I had to pick it would be Rickie Fowler. I just like the way he plays and handles himself on the course. He's one of the best putters on tour, too.
Favorite food: Cheeseburger

Upcoming Events

Players Mentioned

Harrison Arnold

Alex Eickhoff

Campbell Fisher

Connor Glynn