Minnesota Golfer - Summer 2015 - 33

MGANews
Updates on people, places
and events from the MGA
and its Allied Associations.
The Albatross-Much
Rarer Than the Ace
Dean Knuth, the brain behind the USGA Slope
Rating System, guesstimates the odds of a regular
golfer making an albatross-a double eagle-at
1 million-to-1. By comparison, making an ace is
easier, more like 13,000-to-1. Among the reasons
that an albatross is rare is because most golfers
can't reach most par 5s in two shots, diminishing
the element of luck.
Considering the rarity, it's impressive that Tim
Gonsior, a 2.5 handicap from Golden Valley Golf
and Country Club, has made three double eagles
at his home course: at the 6th hole in 1994, at the
18th in 2013 and at the fi rst hole this spring.
" There is a fair amount of luck involved, " he
says, recalling his fi rst albatross. " I hit a 6 iron left
to the green. [When I saw it roll in], I just went
crazy. "
His favorite shot was in 2013. " It was Father's
Day and I was out golfi ng with one of my sons, he
says. " It's one I won't ever forget. "
According to the MGA's database, there were
only nine recorded double eagles in 2014.
2015 MWGA
Scholarships
T
he Minnesota Women's Golf Association's Scholarship Foundation
recently awarded academic scholarships to deserving young women
in need of fi nancial assistance with their post-secondary school education.
The four 2015 MWGA Scholarship honorees include:
Samantha Lee, of Plymouth, Minn.,
graduated from Wayzata High School
and will be part of the honors program
at the University of Minnesota, Twin
Cities, where she is majoring in molecular
and cell biology, with a minor in
computer science.
Mackenzie Manthei, of Belview, Minn.,
graduated from Redwood Valley High
School and will be attending Bethany
Lutheran College in Mankato, studying
both mathematics and business, while
playing on the golf team.
Camille Snyder, of Kasson, Minn.,
graduated from Kasson-Mantorville
High School and will be attending the
Carlson School of Management in the
honors program at the University of
Minnesota, Twin Cities, where she is
majoring in international business.
Elizabeth Thies, of Green Isle, Minn.,
graduated from Sibley East High School
and will be attending Morningside College
in Sioux City, Iowa, where she is
majoring in agricultural business, while
playing on the golf team.
The academic scholarship is $3,000 per year toward undergraduate
tuition, books, and room and board, and is renewable for four years.
Recipients are selected on the basis of academics, fi nancial need and
quality of character demonstrated by civic and academic activities, in
addition to involvement in the game of golf (although skill or excellence
in the latter is not a prerequisite). If you know a deserving young woman
candidate (for the class of 2016), application requests are taken after Oct.
1 and due by March 31. Email maggie@mngolf.org for more information.
Tim Gonsior
www.mngolf.org
Summer 2015 MINNESOTAGOLFER
31
http://www.mngolf.org
Minnesota Golfer - Summer 2015

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