The Daily Reveille
Monday, August 29, 2011
MEN’S GOLF
NCAA champ Peterson stays busy, prepares for Walker Cup
Former Tiger mulling pro options Luke Johnson Sports Contributor
A despondent John Peterson walked off the 18th green at last season’s Southeastern Conference Championship with his head hanging low. After leading for 53 of the 54 holes, Peterson had to duke it out with Florida’s Andres Echavarria in a playoff after Echavarria birdied the final hole of the tournament. Peterson and Echavarria both got on the green in regulation, but Peterson three-putted the SEC Championship title away. “That was tough to take,” Peterson said in his low, smooth Southern drawl. Weeks later, he missed out on a chance to compete as an amateur in the Zurich Classic of New Orleans in the same heartbreaking playoff fashion. “John really played great at File photo the SEC [Cham- Former LSU golfer John Peterson watches a shot during the LSU National Invitational pionship], and on April 3. Peterson tied for third. ‘When for him they were Iin felt The Walker Cup will be the playoff,” the target on my back. It’s good introduc- said former LSU for me, it’s good for my game and played in Scotland this season, and competitors leave Sept. 1 for me motivated.” ing me this golfer Andrew it’ll keep The win led to a surge of Europe. Loupe in a text week, they message. “It was good play for Peterson. He earned If not on the team, Peterson were say- great to see him a Nationwide tour exemption – said he will turn pro. The fact that he would be in a national which he used to place second ing, ‘cur- win the Dallas area championship. I in the Nationwide rent NCAA was and still am Children’s Hospinext weekend instead of Eutal Invitational on extremely happy champion.’’ rope is not lost for him, and he July 21-24. on the Texas naJohn Peterson has a bright fuPeterson just tive. ture ahead of wrapped up a former LSU golfer “I’ll get to showing at the U.S. him.” go to the LSUmatch Peterson came back in a big Amateur Oregon game, way after his disappointments, play tournament so I win either winning the NCAA champion- in Erin, Wisc., that way,” Peterson epitomized a John ship June 2 in Stillwater, Okla. said. The win was a long time Peterson nail-biter. The biggest Down three coming, both for Peterson and John Peterson benefit to bean LSU golf program that hadn’t after three holes, former LSU golfer ing the NCAA seen an individual champion Peterson sunk a Champion? barrage of birdies since the 1940s. “It was really cool, man,” to tie the matchup. After drop- How about throwing out the first Peterson said. “It’s one of those ping two holes, Peterson again pitch at a Major League Baseball things that will stick with you charged back to tie it up on hole game? Peterson did just that, tossing forever. When they were intro- 18. The match would end seemducing me this week, they were ingly the only way Peterson ends the first pitch at a Rangers game in August. saying, ‘current NCAA champi- them – a sudden-death playoff. But Peterson — who said he Peterson was on,’ and it doesn’t get old, I’ll tell More about John Peterson: one of the final had never been more nervous in you that.” • Born April 18, 1989 in Fort Worth, 16 golfers in the his life — might want to stick with golf. field. The newTexas “Yeah, it was a wild pitch,” Peterson endfound title comes ed up losing in the he said. “It hit the backstop. with added pres- • 2011 NCAA Champion next round, but he But I threw it as hard as I could. sure, but Peterson • Two-time PING All-American accepts the result. There’s no middle ground there, said he relishes • Placed second in the Nationwide In fact, he’s OK you’ve got to just chuck it.” the opportunity to Children’s Hospital Invitational with whatever be the benchmark he’s got lined up for his competi- • Lost in the Sweet 16 at the 2011 U.S. Amateur in his future. tors. As the No. “It’s one of those things where you have a 8-ranked amateur golfer in the target on your back,” Peterson World Amateur Golf Rankings, said. “People are trying to beat Peterson figures to be one of the me specifically so they can say 10 golfers to represent America Contact Luke Johnson at college that they beat the NCAA cham- in the Walker Cup, ljohnson@lsureveille.com pion, and I like that. I like having golf’s version of the Ryder Cup.
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‘I like having the target on my back. It’s good for me, it’s good for my game and it’ll keep me motivated.’’
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