FENNIMORE - Argyle native Mitchell Steiner will follow in the footsteps of pro golfer Ben Hogan, playing one of the same New York courses as the Hall of Famer.
Steiner just finished his freshman year at Southwest Wisconsin Technical College in Fennimore. He is one of 90 golfers from various community and two-year colleges who will golf in the National Junior College Athletic Association's Men's Division III National Championships at the Chautauqua Golf Club in Chautauqua, New York. The first round of the 72-hole national championship tournament kicks off today.
"It's definitely an honor," Steiner said. "I'm proud to be here. Hopefully, I can put up some good scores and make people proud of me back home."
Steiner qualified for the tournament by taking medalist honors, shooting a 2-over-146 in two rounds in a regional in Biwabik, Minnesota Oct. 4.
"I was definitely not expected to come here," Steiner said of the national tournament. "Going into the regional our coach said usually two 78s make it. I know I'm capable of that."
Steiner is a golf course management major at Southwest Wisconsin Tech. He said his dream job is becoming a golf professional; before then, he will get to continue playing the game he got hooked on as an eighth grader.
Steiner, a 2016 Argyle High School graduate, developed into one of the top golfers in the state in high school. He was a state qualifier and finished ninth in the WIAA Division 3 state championship as a senior last year.
"I love how it's something different every time," Steiner said of golf. "You can never be perfect at it. There are always challenges."
Now, he's looking to showcase his golfing talent on a bigger stage at the NJCAA National Championships.
"I'm looking at this tournament as four more practice rounds for next year," he said. "I'm going to have fun, take it all in and come back strong next year. It's a good experience and it will be a lot of fun."
The Chautauqua Golf Club is like many other golf courses from Wisconsin, Steiner said.
However, there is one big difference which could separate the contenders from the pretenders: The course is a Donald Ross course. Steiner said because of that, the greens are sloped a lot more and the ball is a lot faster on the greens.
Steiner played a practice round Monday and spent extra time on the greens fine-tuning his putting and chipping.
"The biggest challenge will be when you get on the greens," he said.
Steiner has an internship this summer at the Legend at Bergamont in Oregon.
"It's really nice to work at a golf course that high of caliber," he said. "It's like a whole family there."
It may be a surprise that Steiner qualified for the national championships as a freshman. He plans to play his best and let the results fall where they may.
"When I don't have the pressure on me, I feel like I can just go out and golf," Steiner said.
Steiner just finished his freshman year at Southwest Wisconsin Technical College in Fennimore. He is one of 90 golfers from various community and two-year colleges who will golf in the National Junior College Athletic Association's Men's Division III National Championships at the Chautauqua Golf Club in Chautauqua, New York. The first round of the 72-hole national championship tournament kicks off today.
"It's definitely an honor," Steiner said. "I'm proud to be here. Hopefully, I can put up some good scores and make people proud of me back home."
Steiner qualified for the tournament by taking medalist honors, shooting a 2-over-146 in two rounds in a regional in Biwabik, Minnesota Oct. 4.
"I was definitely not expected to come here," Steiner said of the national tournament. "Going into the regional our coach said usually two 78s make it. I know I'm capable of that."
Steiner is a golf course management major at Southwest Wisconsin Tech. He said his dream job is becoming a golf professional; before then, he will get to continue playing the game he got hooked on as an eighth grader.
Steiner, a 2016 Argyle High School graduate, developed into one of the top golfers in the state in high school. He was a state qualifier and finished ninth in the WIAA Division 3 state championship as a senior last year.
"I love how it's something different every time," Steiner said of golf. "You can never be perfect at it. There are always challenges."
Now, he's looking to showcase his golfing talent on a bigger stage at the NJCAA National Championships.
"I'm looking at this tournament as four more practice rounds for next year," he said. "I'm going to have fun, take it all in and come back strong next year. It's a good experience and it will be a lot of fun."
The Chautauqua Golf Club is like many other golf courses from Wisconsin, Steiner said.
However, there is one big difference which could separate the contenders from the pretenders: The course is a Donald Ross course. Steiner said because of that, the greens are sloped a lot more and the ball is a lot faster on the greens.
Steiner played a practice round Monday and spent extra time on the greens fine-tuning his putting and chipping.
"The biggest challenge will be when you get on the greens," he said.
Steiner has an internship this summer at the Legend at Bergamont in Oregon.
"It's really nice to work at a golf course that high of caliber," he said. "It's like a whole family there."
It may be a surprise that Steiner qualified for the national championships as a freshman. He plans to play his best and let the results fall where they may.
"When I don't have the pressure on me, I feel like I can just go out and golf," Steiner said.
