DWU recruit Connor Preston having strong summer season
Being on top of his game has helped propel Connor Preston to the top of the leaderboards this summer.
Shawn Werre
Aberdeen American News
swerre@aberdeennews.com
Being on top of his game has helped propel Connor Preston to the top of the leaderboards this summer.
Since his graduation from Aberdeen Central in May, Preston has competed in four South Dakota Golf Association Junior Tour events and taken part in the U.S. Open qualifying in May at Sioux Falls. Preston's results have been impressive thus far. He claimed first place in three of the SDGA events, and tied for first in the other. At the two-man tournament at Moccasin Creek Country Club last month, Preston and Andrew Welk tied for third.
His active schedule will continue with a visit to Waukesha, Wis., to play in an American Junior Golf Association tournament, which runs Wednesday through Friday. He also plans to play a tournament in Maryland in early August, and if possible, in the Dakota Open in late August.
Working on his game during the offseason has produced good results for Preston.
"I gained a lot of distance over the winter," he said. "And have just become stronger mentally and more experienced."
Life on the links for Preston started in seventh grade, golfing with his father.
"I went out with my dad a few times and fell in love with it," he said. "I kept working hard to get better."
Preston played high school golf for Aberdeen Central, where he attended several state tournaments and was all-state and all-conference his junior and senior seasons. Preston said playing for coach Kurt Drube was instrumental in helping his game.
"He was a real good influence," Preston said. "He taught me a lot about the mental part of the game. He was always positive and gave good support."
The mental part of the game can make or break a golfer depending on the situation. It's important to have the right frame of mind on the course.
"It's huge, because if you're not focused the entire time, you're never going to play well," he said. "If you have a bad shot or a bad hole, you have to let it go and move on."
The game has taken Preston all over the United States, as he estimates he has played courses in "at least 15 to 20 states," including Nebraska, Wisconsin and Nevada. There are definite differences between the larger courses and the ones he plays locally.
"They are a lot more difficult and a little more well-manicured," he said.
His travels have also enabled him to see some famous people, such as pro golfer Gary Woodland and golf coach Butch Harmon, who is known for his work with Tiger Woods. Preston's favorite pro golfer is Rickie Fowler, who finished in the top 10 in PGA earnings the past two seasons. Preston has seen Fowler in person as well, at a tournament in Washington, D.C.
"I just like the way he plays and his attitude and style," Preston said. "He seems like a super likable guy."
Preston will golf this fall for Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell, where he plans to major in graphic design. The challenge to always be improving serves as a motivation for Preston.
"Just the thought I can keep getting better every day, and can play golf for the rest of my life," he said.
He also gets motivation from watching his fellow golfers on the SDGA Junior Tour.
"The junior players I have played against have had success and I want to play at the same level they are at," Preston said.
To any youngsters looking to get into the game and be successful, Preston offers some words of advice.
"Practice the short game," he said. "That's the most important thing."