A Hole-In-One Of Confidence
Moorhead, Minn. (9/21/15)--- Golf is a game that Emily Grace Olson has made her own.
Her family is not a golfing family. Olson began golfing competitively in junior high and had to borrow clubs from relatives and family friends to see if it would a sport she could dedicate herself to.
As Olson progressed and learned more about the game, her passion for it continued to grow. She enjoyed a successful career at Roseau High School where she also participated in hockey and tennis. Olson participated on the varsity squad as a freshman and found success as she made it to the state tournament her sophomore year at Roseau.
When she headed to Concordia for her freshman year she decided to concentrate on her studies and not play golf. Olson took her freshman year at Concordia off from golf, and then after not playing for a year, Olson decided she missed the game. Cobber head coach Duane Siverson helped her get back to the game she loved playing by urging her to join the team.
And now Gracie Olson is getting back into the groove of things.
She started slowly last year. Olson said that part of the reason for her slow start was because one of her weaknesses on the course as mastering the mental part of the game.
Something happened in the very first meet of the 2015 second helped Olson's confidence level soar.
Olson's leap of confidence came at Blackberry Ridge Golf Course in Sartell. Playing in the second round of the St. Benedict Invite, Olson became the first golfer in program history to score a hole-in-one.
Olson's historical moment came on the par 3 11th hole. The hole is listed as playing 140 yard but playing into a fierce headwind, Siverson said it was playing more like 165-170 yards. Olson used a hybrid club for the memorable shot and the ball never left the pin during its entire flight.
It was almost Tiger Woods Masters-like drama. The scene unfolded when the wind held the ball out of the cup. The ball was leaning against the angled pin, and as the wind died, the pin straightened allowing the ball to swiftly drop into the cup.
The moment was one imagined many times in her head. Having played her fair share of par threes during her golfing career, she often had hit balls to the green and thought, "Ohhh that was close."
One had never gone in until that Saturday.
When it actually went in she didn't know how to react. Olson is just happy her family was there. They were able to share the moment with her and get pictures of her taking the ball out of the cup.
It was something she may never get to experience again but getting to share the moment with friends and family means the world.
Before her return to golf, before the hole-in-one, before Concordia, Olson had quite the mentor.
Her cousin, Erik Weiss ('09) played golf at Concordia and was a standout on the team.
Olson refers to Weiss as her "golf role model". He was the first one to instill the confidence in her that she could still play.
Weiss texts her constantly trying to help her with the ins-and-outs of college golf as best he can. The former Cobber lives in town near Village Green and takes her out on the course and occasionally gives her lessons.
Anything for family.
Olson's golf game is one people should keep an eye on at Concordia. She is in her second year of collegiate competition and her name is slowly rising up leaderboards at the team's weekly tournaments.
While Olson's confidence level continues to grow her scores will continue to improve and her golf game will continue to blossom. Though some people may say a hole-in-one is where a golfer's career peaks, Gracie Olson is hoping that it is just the beginning.
Moorhead, Minn. (9/21/15)--- Golf is a game that Emily Grace Olson has made her own.
Her family is not a golfing family. Olson began golfing competitively in junior high and had to borrow clubs from relatives and family friends to see if it would a sport she could dedicate herself to.
As Olson progressed and learned more about the game, her passion for it continued to grow. She enjoyed a successful career at Roseau High School where she also participated in hockey and tennis. Olson participated on the varsity squad as a freshman and found success as she made it to the state tournament her sophomore year at Roseau.
When she headed to Concordia for her freshman year she decided to concentrate on her studies and not play golf. Olson took her freshman year at Concordia off from golf, and then after not playing for a year, Olson decided she missed the game. Cobber head coach Duane Siverson helped her get back to the game she loved playing by urging her to join the team.
And now Gracie Olson is getting back into the groove of things.
She started slowly last year. Olson said that part of the reason for her slow start was because one of her weaknesses on the course as mastering the mental part of the game.
Something happened in the very first meet of the 2015 second helped Olson's confidence level soar.
Olson's leap of confidence came at Blackberry Ridge Golf Course in Sartell. Playing in the second round of the St. Benedict Invite, Olson became the first golfer in program history to score a hole-in-one.
Olson's historical moment came on the par 3 11th hole. The hole is listed as playing 140 yard but playing into a fierce headwind, Siverson said it was playing more like 165-170 yards. Olson used a hybrid club for the memorable shot and the ball never left the pin during its entire flight.
It was almost Tiger Woods Masters-like drama. The scene unfolded when the wind held the ball out of the cup. The ball was leaning against the angled pin, and as the wind died, the pin straightened allowing the ball to swiftly drop into the cup.
The moment was one imagined many times in her head. Having played her fair share of par threes during her golfing career, she often had hit balls to the green and thought, "Ohhh that was close."
One had never gone in until that Saturday.
When it actually went in she didn't know how to react. Olson is just happy her family was there. They were able to share the moment with her and get pictures of her taking the ball out of the cup.
It was something she may never get to experience again but getting to share the moment with friends and family means the world.
Before her return to golf, before the hole-in-one, before Concordia, Olson had quite the mentor.
Her cousin, Erik Weiss ('09) played golf at Concordia and was a standout on the team.
Olson refers to Weiss as her "golf role model". He was the first one to instill the confidence in her that she could still play.
Weiss texts her constantly trying to help her with the ins-and-outs of college golf as best he can. The former Cobber lives in town near Village Green and takes her out on the course and occasionally gives her lessons.
Anything for family.
Olson's golf game is one people should keep an eye on at Concordia. She is in her second year of collegiate competition and her name is slowly rising up leaderboards at the team's weekly tournaments.
While Olson's confidence level continues to grow her scores will continue to improve and her golf game will continue to blossom. Though some people may say a hole-in-one is where a golfer's career peaks, Gracie Olson is hoping that it is just the beginning.