Fall 2007 Junior Golfer Profiles - Minnesota Junior Golf

     Junior Golf Highlights/Accomplishments: Conrad won the 2007 Westfield Junior MN PGA Boys 12 and Under Championship in 2007 shooting an even par 58 at Vintage GC. He also won a Transition Tour event at Majestic Oaks Executive Course and was six inches from getting a hole-in-one on the seventh hole at Eagle Lake GC.
     Most Memorable experience(s) that occurred while participating in a Minnesota PGA Junior Event: I won the Westfield at Vintage GC and I went into the tournament thinking I was going to win. I was very happy that I hit 16 out of 18 greens but not very happy with only making two birdie putts.
     What are some tips/advice that you would recommend to other juniors to help them with their game? Practice chipping and putting as much as possible. Make sure you compete against older siblings and try to beat them
     Additional Activities/Hobbies: Conrad plays basketball and likes to hang out with his friends. He also likes to fish and hunt.

Favorite Professional Golfer: Adam Scott
Favorite Food: Mashed potatoes
Favorite Music: Country
Favorite Movie: Rush Hour 2
Favorite T.V. Show: ESPN SportsCenter

Devin Holmes Age 15 Ramsey, MN

     Junior Golf Highlights/Accomplishments: Devin won the 2007 Players' Cup for boys ages 13-15 at Pebble Creek GC shooting a 74. This past year Devin was the overall winner at the Sundance GC Junior Tour event. He made the Varsity Golf Team at Anoka as a freshman and lettered. In the past three years on the Junior Tour he has one 3rd place, three 2nd places, three 1st places and one overall 1st place finish.
     Most Memorable experience(s) that occurred while participating in a Minnesota PGA Junior Event: My most memorable experience was winning the Players' Cup for ages 13-15 and also shooting a 3-under par 33 at Sundance GC on the front nine.
     What are some tips/advice that you would recommend to other juniors to help them with their game? Practice your short game, don't just worry about your driver. If you have a bad hole just let it go, if you keep thinking about it and are mad you are going to have more bad holes.
     Additional Activities/Hobbies: Soccer, snowboarding and fishing and hunting.

Favorite Professional Golfer: Zach Johnson
Favorite Food: Pizza
Favorite Music: Any kind
Favorite Movie: Happy Gilmore
Favorite T.V. Show: ESPN SportsCenter

Robert Bell Age 17 Pierz, MN

     Junior Golf Highlights/Accomplishments: Robert was the 2007 Players' Tour Player of the Year and also the Players' Tour Series "C" Champion. He took 3rd place at the Players' Cup for ages 16-18 and won the Players' Tour two-day event at Alexandria CC & Greystone GC. In 2007 he participated in both the MN/WI Junior Cup Matches and the MN/Manitoba Cup Matches. He has been a member of the Pierz High School golf team since 7th grade and received All-Conference in four of the past five years and this year finished runner-up in the Class "A" High School Golf Tournament. Robert has had three hole-in-ones with two of them coming in 2007!
     Most Memorable experience(s) that occurred while participating in a Minnesota PGA Junior Event: Playing in the MN/WI Junior Cup Matches was something that can't be described, unless you played in it before. The format is what makes it a real honor to play in. In my singles matches I defeated my opponent 6&4 and asked our captain if I could finish out the round to post an individual score. I finished out my round and shot a 64 at The Jewel. Also, hearing me name and the town that I represent when being announced Player of the Year was overwhelming. Another big part of the MN Junior PGA for me has been all the good friends I have made on the course over the years.
     What are some tips/advice that you would recommend to other juniors to help them with their game? Work hard and always set your goals high. Never give up on a round and always keep a calm head, because when your mental mindset isn't there you have nothing left in your game.
     Additional Activities/Hobbies: Robert plays starting point guard on the basketball team at Pierz and also plays in two summer softball leagues. He enjoys spending time with friends on and off the course.

Favorite Professional Golfer: Tiger Woods
Favorite Food: Mac and Cheese
Favorite Music: Rap and Classic Rock
Favorite Movie: Stealing Harvard
Favorite T.V. Show: ESPN SportsCenter

Nathan Hoefflin Age 17 St. Cloud, MN

     Junior Golf Highlights/Accomplishments: Nathan won the 2007 Players' Cup for ages 16-18 at Highland National GC shooting a 3-under par 69. This past summer he also won a Players' Tour Series "C" event at Moorhead CC and a Junior Tour event at Albany GC.
     Most Memorable experience(s) that occurred while participating in a Minnesota PGA Junior Event: Winning the Players' Cup for ages 16-18 shooting a 69.
     What are some tips/advice that you would recommend to other juniors to help them with their game? Play as many tournaments as you can and gain the experience you need to win golf tournaments.
     Additional Activities/Hobbies: Playing hockey, listening to music and hanging out with friends.

Cydney Hasselberg Age 16 Staples, MN

     Junior Golf Highlights/Accomplishments: Cydney won the 2007 Players' Cup for ages 16-18 at Highland National GC shooting a 79. She won six MN Junior PGA Junior Tour events during this past summer. Cydney has been a member of the Staples-Motley High School Varsity Golf Team since 7th grade and their team has been the MN High School Academic State Champs for the past four years. She made Mid-State Conference All-Conference Team her 8th, 9th and 10th grade years and also made the All-State Golf Team the past three years and has participated in the Class "A" State Tournament since 8th grade. In May of 2007 she was chosen as the female athlete of the week for the Brainerd Dispatch.
     Most Memorable experience(s) that occurred while participating in a Minnesota PGA Junior Event: My most memorable experience was winning the Players' Cup for ages 16-18. It is a lot of fun to play at a course I have never played at and to play with people I have never played with.
     What are some tips/advice that you would recommend to other juniors to help them with their game? My advice to others is practice, practice, practice. You will never get better unless you put time into practicing golf.
     Additional Activities/Hobbies: When she is not golfing she enjoys playing other sports � especially hockey. She is on the Staples-Motley Volleyball team and is also involved in band, pep band, choir, church and FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes).

Favorite Professional Golfer: Tiger Woods Favorite Food: Special K Bars Favorite Music: Anything Favorite Movie: She's the Man Favorite T.V. Show: No favorites, but like watching sports

McKenzie Neisen Age 12 New Prague , MN

     Junior Golf Highlights/Accomplishments: McKenzie was the 2007 Westfield Junior MN PGA 12 and Under Girls Champion and she also won the Transition Tour Championship for girls ages 10-12. She won two Junior Tour events and qualified for the Players' Cup ages 13-15. She played in the Pepsi Little People's and placed tenth in her age group and is a past two-time winner of the Beginners' Tour Championship.
     Most Memorable experience(s) that occurred while participating in a Minnesota PGA Junior Event: Meeting lots of friend and keeping in touch with them throughout the year. Shooting in the 80's in Junior Tour Events.
     What are some tips/advice that you would recommend to other juniors to help them with their game? Don't get down on yourself when things aren't going well. Keep a positive attitude and have fun playing the game and all the different golf courses.
     Additional Activities/Hobbies: McKenzie also plays basketball, acoustic and electric guitar and speed stacks. She enjoys playing with friends and hunting with her dad.

Favorite Professional Golfer: Ernie Els
Favorite Food: Beef Stroganoff
Favorite Music: Pop
Favorite Movie: Pirates of the Caribbean
Favorite T.V. Show: According to Jim

Steffi Neisen Age 15 New Prague , MN

     Junior Golf Highlights/Accomplishments: Steffi won the 2007 Players' Cup for ages 13-15 at Pebble Creek GC shooting a 78. She took 4th place at the Players' Tour Tournament of Champions and 3rd place at the Westfield Junior MN PGA Championship for girls ages 13-15. Steffi has played the #1 position for the New Prague High School golf team since 7th grade and was named Missota Conference Player of the Year in 8th and 9th grade. She took 7th place at the 2007 Class "AA" State Tournament and was named to the All-State Team. At the MN Junior Girls State Championship she took 3rd place and at the Minnesota Women's State Amateur she tied for 10th place. In 2007 she was a member of the MN/WI Junior Cup Match team and placed sixth in the Pepsi Little People's Championship.
     Most Memorable experience(s) that occurred while participating in a Minnesota PGA Junior Event: At a tournament up north, I hit my drive down the middle of the fairway and a fox ran out and grabbed my golf ball and ran off with it into the woods. Everybody in my group was laughing as we got out our rule books to figure out how to play "Lost ball due to fox."
     What are some tips/advice that you would recommend to other juniors to help them with their game? Challenge yourself by playing against better competition. Make every shot count because in the end one shot can make a big difference. Practice your short game more than your long game. Visualize the shots you want to make and trust your swing and always have fun!
     Additional Activities/Hobbies: Watching all sporting events, playing keyboard and doing volunteer work for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Favorite Professional Golfer: Ernie Els
Favorite Music: Quizno's Subs
Favorite Music: Pop/Hip-Hop
Favorite Movie: Happy Gilmore
Favorite T.V. Show: Saturday Night Live

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