Scotts Valley High incoming sophomore Lucius Niesen has been occupied during his summer break by going out to the golf course almost every single day.
And he’s not doing it just for his own amusement.
The talented up-and-comer continues to thrive on the links after competing in his first-ever American Junior Golf Association Open event.
Niesen placed third at The Wyndham Clark tournament on June 1-4, shooting rounds of 67-70-71 for a top three finish in a field of 60 participants.
The 54-hole stroke-play event hosts 96 junior golfers and is played at the Walnut Creek Golf Preserve, a course measuring more than 7,200 yards, in Westminster.
“I felt great,” Niesen said. “I was working really hard, and I just decided I’m just gonna trust my work and the work that I put in. Trust my game to the utmost level, and it was really working for me.”
Niesen was one of the youngest players in a field that included several graduating seniors committed to NCAA Division I golf programs.
One of the biggest highlights for Niesen was watching his partner Greg White, a graduating senior from Centennial, Colo., sink a hole-in-one in the tournament.
“It was fun to witness another player having a lot of fun and having that great experience,” Niesen said.
The AJGA is widely considered the premier junior golf tour in the United States. It serves as a proving ground for several of the country’s top college golfers.
Niesen has some big goals in mind, so golfing alongside more experienced players allows him to measure what level he’s on compared to them.
“It’s nice to be able to see just how good and how mentally strong some of those top players are,” Niesen said. “That’s a level that I can’t wait to be at and compete against in college.”
Niesen is currently not a member of the Scotts Valley High boys golf team. However, he’s been giving it a lot of thought to try out for the same reason of wanting to compete alongside teammates.
“Especially being a leader and going into college golf,” he said. “College golf is a team, so it’s really important to me for that culture wise.”
During his trip to Colorado, Niesen also learned a thing or two about integrity. There was a situation in that tournament where his club slightly touched the ball, moving it just a tad bit.
“Nobody saw it, but I had to call myself on it,” he said. “You can’t bring yourself to cheat and just not say anything. You have to have integrity and just play the game, and have good sportsmanship.”
Niesen went on to a third-place finish, which happened just days after shooting an even par in the U.S. Open Local Qualifier at Pasatiempo Golf Club in Santa Cruz. He missed the cut by one stroke, but the youngster continues to stay the course by practicing up to five days a week at Pasatiempo.
Niesen also enjoys strength workouts, including plyometrics and running so he can improve his physical fitness.
“I think it really improves my mental game, and I think that’s one of my strengths,” he said.
Earlier this year, Niesen hosted the Pasatiempo Junior Cup in January. The event raised money for Folds of Honor (educational scholarships for military and first responder families) and the AJGA’s Liberty National ACE Grant Program.
He surpassed his goal of $2,000 by raising $2,825 to help provide life-changing scholarships.
Apart from raising funds, Niesen said it was great to share his favorite course with other junior golfers that were split up into teams.
“So many junior golfers just play in individual tournaments, and they never get the team aspect,” he said. “It’s really fun to share the experience of playing on the team with some junior golfers.”
Niesen said he continues to grind and compete simply because he takes great pleasure in the challenge the sport brings to him on a daily basis.
“I love working hard and seeing exactly what my potential is, and reaching that potential,” he said. “It’s fun competing against some really good junior golfers and college golfers, and golfers in general. Competing is one of my favorite parts about golf.”
