June 27, 2007

This will be your fifth qualifier or tournament in the month of June and you said you've golfed all but two days this summer. Do you think that playing in too many tournaments in the summer may cause you to be burned out for the fall season at St. Bonaventure?

"No, definitely not, because my last tournament of the summer is in mid-August and I plan on taking a week off after that. That will give me time to recover and prepare myself for an important senior season."

Are you preparing any differently for this weekend's tournament than you would a collegiate tournament?

"Yeah, because I'm playing just for myself and not for my team, it's a strange feeling. I like to get out and hit a lot of balls before I play and sometimes with a team it's tough to do that because everyone has different schedules. So I've hit a lot of range balls and practiced around the greens more than I usually would."

As you walk about to the No. 10 tee box on Thursday at 1:50 p.m., what will be going through your mind?

"To take the biggest club out of the bag and hopefully make contact (laughing). I'll be thinking about keeping the ball in the fairway because the rough on No. 10 is not where you want to be."

What's the biggest obstacle that you'll have to overcome to be successful this weekend?

"Three-putting is not an option. I'm striking the ball really well right now and as long as I can stay way from having any three-puts, par should be attainable. The other is not to double bogey. There are enough birdie holes out here so I just need to remind myself I don't have to get it all back in one hole if something happens."

How will the experience you get from playing in a Nationwide event and the Porter Cup later in July help you in your senior season?

"It will give me a lot of confidence. I don't think I'll be nervous going into collegiate tournaments anymore. Hopefully that will allow to loosen up and play better. There's no bigger stage than a pro golf tournament so I'll be ready for anything."

Being a local guy from the area and working at the course during summer, you'll have a large following each step of the way this weekend. How much will having your family and friends there help you?

"I'm going to feel like Phil or Tiger out there (laughing). The first hole is going to be the key. If I can make par and get off to a good start it's going to be a lot fun. Hopefully I'll hit the ball well like I have all month and drop a few puts so I can hear a few roars from the crowd."