Gael Spotlight | Michael Slesinski
5/31/2019 3:04:00 PM | General, Men's Golf
The Concentric Wealth Management Gael Spotlight is a monthly Q&A by SMCGaels.com with a Saint Mary's student-athlete to get to know our Gaels more closely.
MORAGA, Calif. — SMCGaels.com recently sat down with redshirt sophomore golfer Michael Slesinski to learn about his background with the game and the potential to play in the US Open this summer at Pebble Beach, Calif.
Q: What brought you to Saint Mary's?
MS: When I was looking into schools and deciding where to go, the three main things I considered were the golf program, the academics, and finally the location of the school. Saint Mary's stood out to me because it fit all three of these things. In regards to the golf program, it has a team that always competes to be top-50 in the nation and competes in one of the best schedules there is in college golf. On top of this, the coach and I connected from the very beginning and was someone that I trusted could get my game to the next level. In terms of academics, Saint Mary's has a top of the line business program and has connections with many top business locations such as San Francisco and the Silicon Valley. This was important in my decision making process because it gave me a really good back up plan if golf didn't work out. Finally, the location of the school was very appealing to me. I live in Fremont so not only was it close and convenient but it's also in California, which is ideal for playing golf in college.
Q: At what age did you begin playing golf and how did you get into the sport?
MS: I picked up a club and fooled around at the driving range with my father when I was about 12, but I didn't start getting into actually playing competitive golf until I was in seventh grade. My dad got me into the sport because he began playing later in his life and he wanted me to experience it early on. He also got me into the game because it is one that makes you learn patience and it builds character. I don't think either of us initially knew how far the game would take me.
Q: Is there a golfer you aspire to be like or model your game after?
MS: I wouldn't say there is any one particular golfer that I aspire to be like or model my game off of. Of course I do the best I can to learn from different golfers tips here and there that I could use to help my game, but when it comes down to it I'm always trying to play my best game. You can't sit there and try to model the perfect game or the perfect swing because you will never attain that. You need to learn your game and once you know what that is you can try to constantly improve it.
Q: The Gaels recently competed at the NCAA Regionals in Austin, Texas. What was that experience like?
MS: Competing at the NCAA Regionals is an experience that every college golfer wishes they can have. With that being said it is amazing to be there and compete against the best college golfers in the nation. It is an experience that you can learn from and is one that really tests your abilities as a golfer.
Q: You recently competed in a qualifying event for the US Open, tell us more about that.
MS: The US Open is one of professional golf's four majors of the year. This major is special because anyone can try to qualify for it. The way the qualifying works is that there are two rounds, local and sectional qualifying. In order to make it through local qualifying, you have to come in the top-5 in a field of roughly 90 competitors. I competed at my local qualifying in Chico, Calif. and came in second by shooting a 69. The qualifiers from the local sites then move on to sectional qualifying which is basically a qualifier of all the people who qualified from locals. At sectionals it's the same thing, usually the top 5 make it through in a field of roughly 90 competitors. If you qualify through this second stage, you then make it to the actual US Open which is being held at Pebble Beach this year. This is gives amateur golfers an opportunity to compete in a professional event, which is why the US Open is so important to many players.
Q: What was your favorite moment from last season?
MS: My favorite moment from last season was the final round of San Diego. I think we went into the day in about fifth place and were behind some really good teams so we were in position to have a good finish. At the end of the day, we shot the day's best round at 10-under total as a team and moved up two spots on the leaderboard to 3rd place overall. The feeling we all had as a team after that round is a feeling that was indescribable and something that we hope to experience more together in the future.
Q: What is the most difficult aspect about playing golf in your opinion?
MS: The most difficult aspect of golf in my opinion is the mental battle a golfer faces throughout the course of a round. Being able to stay completely focused for five hours during a round and pulling off every shot how you want to is almost impossible. With this being said, one must learn to cope with their bad shots that they hit and be able to move on as fast as you can in order to make the next shot your best shot. Learning how to have a short memory is very important to being successful in this game.
Q: Saint Mary's made the NCAA Regionals for the fifth consecutive season and didn't lose any members of the starting lineup going into next year. What are your expectations of the team moving forward?
MS: As a team, one of our expectations at a bare minimum is to make it back to the NCAA Regionals. Having the exact same roster moving forward into next season, we are expecting even more. With the talent we have and the younger guys being able to mature for a full year, we know that we can make it to the national championship. Our team camaraderie will be at an all time high and if we all play like we can, we will definitely make it one step further. On top of just making it to the national championship, a few more of our goals will be to win our conference championship as well as winning a few regular season tournaments. All of these things are in reach for our team next year.
MORAGA, Calif. — SMCGaels.com recently sat down with redshirt sophomore golfer Michael Slesinski to learn about his background with the game and the potential to play in the US Open this summer at Pebble Beach, Calif.
Q: What brought you to Saint Mary's?
MS: When I was looking into schools and deciding where to go, the three main things I considered were the golf program, the academics, and finally the location of the school. Saint Mary's stood out to me because it fit all three of these things. In regards to the golf program, it has a team that always competes to be top-50 in the nation and competes in one of the best schedules there is in college golf. On top of this, the coach and I connected from the very beginning and was someone that I trusted could get my game to the next level. In terms of academics, Saint Mary's has a top of the line business program and has connections with many top business locations such as San Francisco and the Silicon Valley. This was important in my decision making process because it gave me a really good back up plan if golf didn't work out. Finally, the location of the school was very appealing to me. I live in Fremont so not only was it close and convenient but it's also in California, which is ideal for playing golf in college.
Q: At what age did you begin playing golf and how did you get into the sport?
MS: I picked up a club and fooled around at the driving range with my father when I was about 12, but I didn't start getting into actually playing competitive golf until I was in seventh grade. My dad got me into the sport because he began playing later in his life and he wanted me to experience it early on. He also got me into the game because it is one that makes you learn patience and it builds character. I don't think either of us initially knew how far the game would take me.
Q: Is there a golfer you aspire to be like or model your game after?
MS: I wouldn't say there is any one particular golfer that I aspire to be like or model my game off of. Of course I do the best I can to learn from different golfers tips here and there that I could use to help my game, but when it comes down to it I'm always trying to play my best game. You can't sit there and try to model the perfect game or the perfect swing because you will never attain that. You need to learn your game and once you know what that is you can try to constantly improve it.
Q: The Gaels recently competed at the NCAA Regionals in Austin, Texas. What was that experience like?
MS: Competing at the NCAA Regionals is an experience that every college golfer wishes they can have. With that being said it is amazing to be there and compete against the best college golfers in the nation. It is an experience that you can learn from and is one that really tests your abilities as a golfer.
Q: You recently competed in a qualifying event for the US Open, tell us more about that.
MS: The US Open is one of professional golf's four majors of the year. This major is special because anyone can try to qualify for it. The way the qualifying works is that there are two rounds, local and sectional qualifying. In order to make it through local qualifying, you have to come in the top-5 in a field of roughly 90 competitors. I competed at my local qualifying in Chico, Calif. and came in second by shooting a 69. The qualifiers from the local sites then move on to sectional qualifying which is basically a qualifier of all the people who qualified from locals. At sectionals it's the same thing, usually the top 5 make it through in a field of roughly 90 competitors. If you qualify through this second stage, you then make it to the actual US Open which is being held at Pebble Beach this year. This is gives amateur golfers an opportunity to compete in a professional event, which is why the US Open is so important to many players.
Q: What was your favorite moment from last season?
MS: My favorite moment from last season was the final round of San Diego. I think we went into the day in about fifth place and were behind some really good teams so we were in position to have a good finish. At the end of the day, we shot the day's best round at 10-under total as a team and moved up two spots on the leaderboard to 3rd place overall. The feeling we all had as a team after that round is a feeling that was indescribable and something that we hope to experience more together in the future.
Q: What is the most difficult aspect about playing golf in your opinion?
MS: The most difficult aspect of golf in my opinion is the mental battle a golfer faces throughout the course of a round. Being able to stay completely focused for five hours during a round and pulling off every shot how you want to is almost impossible. With this being said, one must learn to cope with their bad shots that they hit and be able to move on as fast as you can in order to make the next shot your best shot. Learning how to have a short memory is very important to being successful in this game.
Q: Saint Mary's made the NCAA Regionals for the fifth consecutive season and didn't lose any members of the starting lineup going into next year. What are your expectations of the team moving forward?
MS: As a team, one of our expectations at a bare minimum is to make it back to the NCAA Regionals. Having the exact same roster moving forward into next season, we are expecting even more. With the talent we have and the younger guys being able to mature for a full year, we know that we can make it to the national championship. Our team camaraderie will be at an all time high and if we all play like we can, we will definitely make it one step further. On top of just making it to the national championship, a few more of our goals will be to win our conference championship as well as winning a few regular season tournaments. All of these things are in reach for our team next year.
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/ Men's Golf
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