Jordie Siverson - Father Knows Best
Feature by Larry Scott
The recruiting process can be a stressful experience for the young student-athlete in search of the right collegiate fit, and saying no when a persistent coach keeps calling can be difficult. Especially when it's your dad.
Unlike many college athletes, however, Jordie Siverson had no problems with the entire recruiting adventure. He knew long before he left Oak Grove High School in Fargo, N.D., where he was headed – to Concordia College to play golf for his father, head coach Duane Siverson.
"He didn't have to try very hard to recruit me," Siverson said. "I knew ever since I was a little kid I wanted to go here, and being able to play golf was an added bonus. I didn't even think about going to any other school. Concordia was where I was going to end up, and it's been a good four years."
Before enrolling at Concordia, Siverson put up impressive numbers with the Grovers and helped them to the 2007 North Dakota State Class B Championship, and runnerup finishes in 2008 and 2009.
There were some individual highwater marks as well. "I took third in the state as a senior," said Siverson.
While family ties brought Siverson to the doorstep of Concordia College, a friendship with a future teammate – Tyler Champ – sealed the deal. "Tyler, who graduated last year, asked me to live with him in the dorms when I was a freshman. He kind of took me in and showed me the ropes. We played together for three years, and he became one of my good friends."
His game has developed consistently during his four years with the Cobbers, and he traces much of that success to his dad.
Duane Siverson's classy coaching portfolio includes a batch of MIAC titles and a pair of runnerup finishes at the NCAA Division III Women's Golf Championships, and his approach to the game has left an imprint on his son.
"My dad instilled in me that it's not about perfection; it's about going out and doing the best you can," said Jordie. "It's taught me to have a good attitude, but it's humbling. Golf is the most rewarding sport out there, and I can play it all my life."
Siverson has learned to appreciate the calmness his dad brings to the sport.
"The main aspect my dad tries to instill in all of us is the mental game. He's played the game for so long that his view of the game is a little different from the younger generation. We're trying to get under par and see how low we can go, but we get more frustrated and mad at the game."
Siverson is confident he is getting better at dealing with the disappointment golf often brings. "I think that's where my game has grown the most. It's still not great there, but it's getting better.
Too many, success in golf should be measured in length off booming drives, and while Jordie admits he's not the biggest hitter on the team he can still get off the tee. "If I get after one it can get out there pretty far, maybe 300 yards."
That kind of game has little appeal for his father.
"He's the kind of player who is happy shooting par," his son explained. "He'll be chipping and putting for almost an hour every day; you don't find him out on the driving range. A perfect round for him would be 18 pars. He could walk off and be happy."
A three-year letterman for the Cobbers, Siverson likes where his game is at this fall.
"I think I've gotten better every year, and I feel I'm playing some the best golf of my life. It's been real rewarding this year, and I think I'm at the top of my game right now."
Last week Concordia placed 10th in a strong field of 17 teams at the Twin Cities Classic, and Siverson finished 17th on the individual leaderboard with a 73-75-78—226.
The Cobbers return to the metro area this weekend for the MIAC Championships at Bunker Hills in Coon Rapids, and Siverson would like nothing better than to exit in style in his final conference tournament.
"Personally, it would be nice to make all-conference as a senior," he explained. "I haven't played well there the last two years, but it would be ideal to be around the top 15."
He has ambitious hopes for the rest of his Cobber golfing pals as well.
"As a team we're getting close, and we're getting better. Of course winning the conference is our ultimate goal, and if we play great golf for three days we could beat all those teams, but realistically success for us would be making the top three. St. John's is usually the best team but Gustavus (Adolphus) has played phenomenally this year. They've won or been in the top three in every tournament."
Siverson is fully aware that the veterans on the club must play a major role if the Cobbers are to contend, and he is embracing his new role as a team leader, along with fellow senior Andrew Whitchurch and sophomore Coy Papachek.
"It's been nice to get into the senior-leading role," said Siverson. "The last eight rounds I've been the most consistent on the team. I think it's helped me to be in that number one or two spot, that I have to come in and post a good score. Our success depends on the players who have been there before."
The communications major will graduate in spring in search of a new career, but there will be one more college golfing adventure. "We always go down to Arizona during spring break."