By Maria Borri
Sports Editor
IVCCs star golfer, Tim Puetz, has started the season with a First Place and a Second Place Medalist finish.
At the Highland 36 Tournament in Freeport Aug. 31, "Tim proved to be the best player," said coach Jim Moskalewicz. "He went out against 122 golfers and beat them all."
At the Parkland Invitational on Sept. 6, Puetz fired a 72 to tie NJCAA All American Spence Andrews of John A. Logan College for medalist honors. Andrews finally claimed the top honors by winning a sudden-death play-off on the third extra hole.
Puetz is not only leading the IVCC team, he's proven himself to be one of the best players in the area. This summer he won the 2001 News Tribune Area Wide Men's Golf Tournament.
As Puetz describes his News Tribune win: "I drove the ball into the creek on the 14th hole and then chipped the ball right in saving a par. It was the best shot I ever hit in my golf career. I knew I had to win after that."
The IVCC sophomore said he started playing golf as a kid with his father and fell in love with it. He played golf all four years at L-P High School and played basketball and baseball up to his sophomore year. That is when he decided to focus on golf.
When asked why he chose to play at IVCC, he said, "We have a good team and also a great coach. It made sense to stay at home for two years and plan my future."
Last year, Puetz earned all region honors, one of four Apache men to do so, and the team finished the season by placing eighth in the national tournament.
Puetz said he is hoping to be offered a scholarship to play golf at a southern college. He plans to major in business.
"After college, I would love to be a professional golfer and play Tiger Woods," he said. "If not, I at least want to have my own driving range and teach golf. I just want to go out and have a good time."
Coach Moskalwicz said: "Tim has everything it takes to make this team successful. He has a lot of power, competitiveness, and has a lot of experience. He is awesome at making puts. He is also pretty gritty and that makes him push himself even further."