[Matt]

My name is Matt and I'm 19 and from Wisconsin. Currently in Minnesota for college and I'm enjoying it. I first got into 'this stuff' in the fall of 2000, my freshman year of high school. When my book arrived, I asked myself what I was getting into - little did I know. Back in the day I played a spectrum of sports but really got into golf around the age of 12. I found myself progress from a 90s shooter in 8th grade to a 1-handicap last year with the help of numerous people - my AI in Wisconsin, Lynn, Chuck Evans, and many others.

Golfwise, I enjoy playing competitively, bantering about the swing, and watching the lightbulb turn on in peoples' heads when I show them something. I have two golf-related jobs, so I'm always around the game somehow and can practice and play all the time. I've qualified for and played in the Wisconsin State Amateur the past two years and had some great learning experiences. In 2003, I was the youngest player to make the cut at age 17. My goal this year is to play whatever competitive events I can and get my handicap to scratch or better.

Thanks to Lynn, I was able to attend the first Secrets of the Golfing Machine Workshop in St. Augustine last spring that he conducted with Chuck Evans. My 'book knowledge' and how it's applicable to my game increased tremendously. I am sometimes guilty of overanalyzing my swing and get frustrated very quickly when my game doesn't reflect the effort I've put into it. Again thanks to Lynn, I visited him in Marietta two weeks ago over my spring break. I realized that I had been overlooking several things that were applicable to my game (Hitting? Hmmm). I'm really looking forward to this golf season.

What else...I don't know what I'm studying in school yet, and I'm not ruling out a golf-related occupation. I'm not playing for the team here, as I'd prefer to 'do my thing' golfwise in the summer and 'live the college experience' during the school year. I'm very content with that. Other interests of mine are fitness/nutrition (I'm in the gym 5 days a week ), playing my guitar, global politics, modern history, digging to find the real stories behind the news, and persuasive writing.

Here's to a great 2005 season.