ON THE SPOT: Trey Pfund

By MIKE HUTSELL
Mike.Hutsell@newsandtribune.com

June 15, 2009 10:24 pm

— A year ago, Trey Pfund found himself contending near the top of the standings at the IHSAA State Finals in Franklin.
After the first day of last year’s state finals, Pfund was positioned for a run at the state title. He was within five shots of the leader, but could not carry over that momentum. Pfund shot 5-over par on the second day of competition at The Legends of Indiana Golf Course and finishing tied for 16th.
This year, Pfund is back at it again.
After helping lead the Pioneers back to the state round, the senior hopes that he can once again put together a run for the state crown.
As part of its continuing “On The Spot” series, The Evening News caught up with Pfund to discuss preparing for his final state tournament, his college choice and just exactly how deep his love for his golf game runs.

QUESTION: How’s the preparations for the state finals going so far?
TREY PFUND: “Good. We’ve been able to play two practice rounds up (at Legends) since we qualified, and we’ve gotten pretty familiar with the course.”
Q: Last year, the team was unable to qualify for the second day of play. What can the Pioneers do this time around to expect a different outcome?
PFUND: “Coach (Dave Lobeck) and I both have addressed the team about just playing our game shot-to-shot. The next shot is the one that matters. Whether you bogeyed the hole before or birdied it, it’s in the past and you can’t hang on it.”
Q: What about your game? How are you feeling heading into your final state finals?
PFUND: “It seems like for about the last four or five weeks, I haven’t hit the ball real well at all. I just haven’t been able to put everything together and haven’t had everything clicking. For some reason, in the past three days or so, I’ve felt like I’m hitting the ball pretty well again and I think I’m ready to get out there and play.”
Q: So you’re feeling good about your chances to contend?
PFUND: “I am. I always feel pretty good about my game and always think that I can play with anybody. That’s an approach I feel like you pretty much have to have to be successful.”
Q: You’ve already signed to play golf next year at Marian College. What was it about that program that stood out to you?
PFUND: “I’ve always gone to a small, Catholic school growing up. I had chances to play at bigger schools like Western Kentucky and Purdue, but Marian was the right fit for me. Their golf program and namely their golf coach (John Grimes) were what drew me to there.”
QUESTION: How much golf do you play to keep your game in good shape? Do you watch it all the time as well?
PFUND: “Basically, if it’s over 40 degrees outside, I try to get out that day and play around. That’s the only way that your game doesn’t get rusty is to be out there every day and play it when you can. And I do watch a lot. Jim Furyk and Padraig Harrington are two of my favorites to watch.”
Q: What about Tiger Woods? Can he do anything on the course that surprises you at this point?
PFUND: “Not really. The thing I always try to take out of watching Tiger is how he’s so tougher than everyone else mentally when he plays. His focus and his drive just seem so much higher than everyone else that he plays.”
Q: This isn’t really a golf question, but who’s your pick for the hottest woman in the world right now?
PFUND: “Let’s see. I’m going to go with Carmen Electra.”
Q: So you have the choice — a date with Carmen Electra or hitting a hole-in-one at the famed 17th hole island green at Sawgrass?
PFUND: “(Laughing) I’m taking the date with Carmen Electra.”

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