After surging to second place at the Carleton-Macalaster-St. Olaf triangular tournament, Noah Parker ’20 carried his momentum into the MIAC Championships this weekend. Posting the best individual result among all members of the St. Olaf men’s golf team, Parker shot seven-over-par across three days to finish eighth overall.
Q: Describe some of your golf background. How did you get into it, and when did you know that you wanted to pursue it at a collegiate level?
A: My parents had a golf club in my hand by the age of two. I didn’t know until second semester of my freshman year at St. Olaf that I wanted to play at the collegiate level, but I am glad I joined the team last spring.
Q: What role models or teachers have played a significant role in your improvement as a golfer and person?
A: My grandfather was a huge role model, in the game of golf and as a person. Coach Petterson has improved my golf game significantly by helping me with my short game, but I don’t model my swing after any professionals or anything as I don’t actually know very much about the mechanics of the swing.
Q: What do you feel your greatest asset is as a golfer, and what’s an element of your game that you’re striving to improve?
A: I think my greatest asset is my mental game, I love to compete and battle back in tough situations. However, I’m trying to improve my ball striking so I don’t find myself in as many bad situations. The new golf room in Skoglund should help me with my swing this winter.
Q: Regarding your performance this past weekend, what was the biggest difference maker in determining your success? What was the highlight of the weekend for you?
A: This biggest difference this weekend was my short game, especially my putting, helping me avoid big numbers on the scorecard. Highlight of the weekend for me was having family walking with me each day, as well as knowing I had to play the last two holes even to finish in the top 10, and being able to come through with two pars.
