JGANC Interviews

Meet your JGANC members. We attempt to introduce you to members of all age groups. Next time you see them at a tournament, say hi to these friendly members.

Kirsten

Jordan

Meet sisters
Kirsten & Jordan Keyser
from Ahwahnee

JGANC	I've never interviewed two people at the same time so this should be interesting. I think it is pretty special having brothers and sisters in the JGANC. Jordan, what are the advantages and disadvantages of having a sister playing in the JGANC too?
Jordan	One advantage is that no matter where, I'll know at least one person out there. As far as disadvantages it makes one more person to compete with and she can beat me!
JGANC	Kirsten, how do you and Jordan differ?
Kirsten	Jordan has a better short game and I'm better from tee to green
JGANC	What about practice?
Kirsten	I practice 3-4 days a week. I start out at the range. I play a game called the towel drill. You set a towel 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 yards out and try to land the ball on the towel. Then I hit my 100 yard shots. I start with my 9-iron and go up to my dirver, picking different targets on the range. Then I chip. I do sand shots, bump and runs, chip and pitch shots and then I putt. I do a speed drill. You can't hit the ball more than 18 inches beyond the hole and you can't leave it short. I do that from a lot of diffent distances. If I have time I go play holes.
Jordan	I practice about 3 days a week and I work on special drills with each thing. With driving I pick out a target and I see if I can hit right on it, left of it and right of it. In putting I do a speed drill where you stick 4 tees behind the cup with the first two 6 inches away and the second two about 18 inches away. Then you put a tee at the 3 foot, 6 foot, 9 foot, 12 foot, 15 foot, 18 foot and 21 foot mark. You putt from each one and you either make it or miss it in between the four tees. With chipping I lay down a towel and I try to hit it with the ball. Another one is I draw a tick-tack-toe board in a sand bunker. Then you trade off turns trying to hit a square and then you get an X or O in that box. The first one with a tick-tack-toe wins.
JGANC	Wow, you two have given everyone great lessons here. You should be charging for all this information. Maybe you two could start a Keyser Kamp. When did you begin playing golf?
Jordan	My dad one day took me to a golf course and got me a lesson. After that I started going out more and getting more lessons. I was about three and it was in Idaho.
Kirsten	My parents played before I did. My dad got us involved in the JGANC when I was 10. One of my first golf clinics was with Tracy Hanson at her home course in Twin Lakes, Idaho. My mom worked at the golf course and my dad took us to practice. Then we moved to California.
JGANC	Well, that was certainly California's gain. We're so glad you both are in the JGANC. Kirsten, what has been the best moment in the JGANC for you?
Kirsten	I have made so many new friends in the JGANC and am excited to make even more. One of my most memorable moments was when I had my first birdie. It was at the Palo Alto Winter Holiday Classic. It was a par-3 and it was the closest to the hole. I was playing with one other girl and she ended up getting closest to the pin, unfortunately she 3-putted and I sunk my put for my very first birdie. I was very excited.
JGANC	Jordan, your parents conducted a golf tournament this year. How did it feel playing in it?
Jordan	I thought it was fun and it was just like another tournament, but I could answer everybody's questions. I was aware of how much work it took, but I didn't know it was that much work! I also didn't know you had to start working on it so early.
JGANC	It's too bad more of our juniors don't have this experience. Everyone needs to know how hard it is and how lucky we are to have such dedicated tournament directors. What are your golas for 2007?
Kirsten	One of my goals for 2007 is to break 80 in a tournament. My goal for every tournament is to have fun and make new friends.
Jordan	My goals are having good grades and improving 10 strokes in my golf game.
JGANC	What other activities do you both enjoy doing?
Kirsten	I love to swim, play the piano, guitar and clarinet. I also like to play soccer, run, hang out with my friends at the lake or anywhere, surf, snowboard, ski, do triathlons and volleyball.
Jordan	I play soccer, run, swim, read, play basketball, triathlons, play with animals and explore.
JGANc	What interesting and talented young ladies you are. Thanks for sharing a better picture of Kirsten and Jordan. I know the membership will feel they know you both much better. Good luck to the two of you.

Meet Matt Williams
from San Jose

  JGANC I've really looked forward to this interview to get to know you. You are a relatively new face and with your win at the Sean Remen Memorial it's obvious you are an outstanding player. You've had a great beginning for this season. What do you have planned for the future?

Matt In addition to playing on the Coyote Creek GC team in the Bay Cities league, this summer I will play in JGANC and NCGA tournaments. During the fall, I will return for my third year on the California Junior Tour. After high school, I hope to play collegiate golf.

  JGANC I do hope you play lots of JGANC golf. You have lots of talent. How did it all start anyway?

Matt I started playing golf casually with my Dad at age 10. My first lessons were with the Young Guns junior program at Deep Cliff GC in Cupertino. I played baseball, volleyball and golf, but at age 14 I chose to focus on golf.

  JGANC That was a wise decision. You really have a future in golf. Do you practice regularly?

Matt During school, I try to hit balls once or twice during the week and play at least one round of golf on the weekends, plus practices with my high school team. During the summer, I try to get out to the golf course at least 6 times a week. My regular practice routine is to work on my short game, then hit some balls, then putt.

  JGANC Well, all of it is working. How long have you been a JGANC member and do you have a favorite event you enjoy playing?

Matt I've been a member of the JGANC 2 years and I'd have to say the Sean Remen Memorial Junior Classic at Los Altos CC..

  JGANC Now that was a silly question, wasn't it? Let me ask you something that I shouldn't already know the answer. So far, what is the best part of being in the JGANC?

Matt It's a great opportunity to play in well organized tournaments with good competition at a variety of golf courses.

  JGANC Has anything funny happened out there that you are willing to share with us?

Matt A few years ago, when I was playing in Florida with my dad, I tried to fish out a ball I lost in the water hazard when another golfer mentioned that I really shouldn't be doing that. Later we saw an alligator swimming in that same lake!

  JGANC Good grief! My we are spoiled in California since we don't have to worry about things like that. Before we close what other activities other than golf make up Matt Williams.

Matt I like to watch movies and travel with my family.

  JGANC And when you mentioned all those other sports you gave up for golf, I suppose you continue to enjoy them as well. You are a very interesting young man and an asset to the JGANC. We wish you all the luck in the world and hope to see your name again at the top of the leaderboard.

Meet Mark Oshima
from Daly City

JGANC You won the Tournament of Champions twice in a row. That's quite a record! Tell us about this experience and how you feel about it.

Mark The first year I played in the TOC I was just happy to be there and was excited to play at Spanish Bay. Winning was a great and unforgetable experience. I was more comfortable the second time playing because I was confident I could play the course well. I just tried hard to focus on hitting good shots and fortunately I won again.

JGANC I assume you practice like crazy to have the great game that you have.

Mark I practice about five times a week including weekends. I normally go on the course during weekends and one of the weekdays. When hitting balls I bring a video camera to check my swing about once a week.

JGANC That's the first time I've heard that. What a great idea. Tell me, if you've read any of the other interviews you no doubt have noticed that dads are the ones getting their youngsters into golf. Is your story any different?

Mark My dad bought a Tiger Woods video game and after playing it I wanted to play real golf. My dad took me to the San Bruno Driving Range where I had my first lesson

JGANC And the rest is history, so they say. So what are your plans for this season?

Mark My goals for 2007 are to play each shot with a clear mind and to go through the correct process every time. This way I won't regret any miss-shots. This is very difficult, but if I can do this I will play well this year.

JGANC How long have you been in the JGANC?

Mark This makes six years.

JGANC I'd say you are a JGANC veteran. With all this experience what would you say is the best thing about the JGANC?

Mark The JGANC is a great organization because all of the tournaments are accessible and affordable for people. Playing in the JGANC has helped me improve as a golfer through competition and make new friends.

JGANC That's what it is all about. Tell us a bit more about Mark off the golf course.

Mark I like to hang out with friends and going to the movies never gets old. I also enjoy school dances, but it would be nice if I could actually dance.

JGANC Hmmmmm.....maybe we could offer dance lessons while you are waiting for your tee time. Before we go, I just have to ask you which JGANC is your favorite?

Mark The TOC!

JGANC I should have known! Well, what about a three-pete???? Win a premier and you are eligible for Spanish Bay again. Now wouldn't that be a super way to end 2007? We might have to rename the event.....The Oshima Classic! Good luck, Mark.

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JGANC	I've really looked forward to this interview to get to know you. You are a relatively new face and with your win at the Sean Remen Memorial it's obvious you are an outstanding player. You've had a great beginning for this season. What do you have planned for the future?
Matt	In addition to playing on the Coyote Creek GC team in the Bay Cities league, this summer I will play in JGANC and NCGA tournaments. During the fall, I will return for my third year on the California Junior Tour. After high school, I hope to play collegiate golf.
JGANC	I do hope you play lots of JGANC golf. You have lots of talent. How did it all start anyway?
Matt	I started playing golf casually with my Dad at age 10. My first lessons were with the Young Guns junior program at Deep Cliff GC in Cupertino. I played baseball, volleyball and golf, but at age 14 I chose to focus on golf.
JGANC	That was a wise decision. You really have a future in golf. Do you practice regularly?
Matt	During school, I try to hit balls once or twice during the week and play at least one round of golf on the weekends, plus practices with my high school team. During the summer, I try to get out to the golf course at least 6 times a week. My regular practice routine is to work on my short game, then hit some balls, then putt.
JGANC	Well, all of it is working. How long have you been a JGANC member and do you have a favorite event you enjoy playing?
Matt	I've been a member of the JGANC 2 years and I'd have to say the Sean Remen Memorial Junior Classic at Los Altos CC..
JGANC	Now that was a silly question, wasn't it? Let me ask you something that I shouldn't already know the answer. So far, what is the best part of being in the JGANC?
Matt	It's a great opportunity to play in well organized tournaments with good competition at a variety of golf courses.
JGANC	Has anything funny happened out there that you are willing to share with us?
Matt	A few years ago, when I was playing in Florida with my dad, I tried to fish out a ball I lost in the water hazard when another golfer mentioned that I really shouldn't be doing that. Later we saw an alligator swimming in that same lake!
JGANC	Good grief! My we are spoiled in California since we don't have to worry about things like that. Before we close what other activities other than golf make up Matt Williams.
Matt	I like to watch movies and travel with my family.
JGANC	And when you mentioned all those other sports you gave up for golf, I suppose you continue to enjoy them as well. You are a very interesting young man and an asset to the JGANC. We wish you all the luck in the world and hope to see your name again at the top of the leaderboard.

JGANC	You won the Tournament of Champions twice in a row. That's quite a record! Tell us about this experience and how you feel about it.
Mark	The first year I played in the TOC I was just happy to be there and was excited to play at Spanish Bay. Winning was a great and unforgetable experience. I was more comfortable the second time playing because I was confident I could play the course well. I just tried hard to focus on hitting good shots and fortunately I won again.
JGANC	I assume you practice like crazy to have the great game that you have.
Mark	I practice about five times a week including weekends. I normally go on the course during weekends and one of the weekdays. When hitting balls I bring a video camera to check my swing about once a week.
JGANC	That's the first time I've heard that. What a great idea. Tell me, if you've read any of the other interviews you no doubt have noticed that dads are the ones getting their youngsters into golf. Is your story any different?
Mark	My dad bought a Tiger Woods video game and after playing it I wanted to play real golf. My dad took me to the San Bruno Driving Range where I had my first lesson
JGANC	And the rest is history, so they say. So what are your plans for this season?
Mark	My goals for 2007 are to play each shot with a clear mind and to go through the correct process every time. This way I won't regret any miss-shots. This is very difficult, but if I can do this I will play well this year.
JGANC	How long have you been in the JGANC?
Mark	This makes six years.
JGANC	I'd say you are a JGANC veteran. With all this experience what would you say is the best thing about the JGANC?
Mark	The JGANC is a great organization because all of the tournaments are accessible and affordable for people. Playing in the JGANC has helped me improve as a golfer through competition and make new friends.
JGANC	That's what it is all about. Tell us a bit more about Mark off the golf course.
Mark	I like to hang out with friends and going to the movies never gets old. I also enjoy school dances, but it would be nice if I could actually dance.
JGANC	Hmmmmm.....maybe we could offer dance lessons while you are waiting for your tee time. Before we go, I just have to ask you which JGANC is your favorite?
Mark	The TOC!
JGANC	I should have known! Well, what about a three-pete???? Win a premier and you are eligible for Spanish Bay again. Now wouldn't that be a super way to end 2007? We might have to rename the event.....The Oshima Classic! Good luck, Mark.

JGANC Interviews Meet your JGANC members. We attempt to introduce you to members of all age groups. Next time you see them at a tournament, say hi to these friendly members.

JGANC Interviews

Meet your JGANC members. We attempt to introduce you to members of all age groups. Next time you see them at a tournament, say hi to these friendly members.

Meet Matt Williams from San Jose

Meet Mark Oshima from Daly City

JGANC Interviews

Meet your JGANC members. We attempt to introduce you to members of all age groups. Next time you see them at a tournament, say hi to these friendly members.

Meet Matt Williams
from San Jose

Meet Mark Oshima
from Daly City