Oct. 17, 2007
University of Iowa junior Tyrette Metzendorf shot a final-round 68 at the Lady Northern Invitational on Sept. 23 in State College, Pa. Metzendorf finished tied for fourth in the medalist race with a 54-hole score of 219 (which ties Kelley Brooke for the school record). Her 18-hole score of 68 was a school record, bettering the old UI mark of 69 held by Lynn Tauke, Liz Bennett and Amy Riepma.
Were you aware that you were closing in on a school-record round?
T Metzendorf: No. I didn’t even know what the school record was. I was really excited that I was having such a good round and then after the round we were in the van and my former teammate Amy (Riepma) sent me a text that said she heard I had etched my name in the record books again. I waited until I got to the airport and I called my dad and he told me that it said on-line that I broke the school record. That was exciting.
Do you have any superstitions or good luck charms?
T Metzendorf: I used to be really superstitious when I was younger, but I’ve decided that it’s pointless. When I was in seventh grade I had this bracelet that I thought was cool. I wore it to bed one night and the next day I broke 80 for the first time. So then before every round I would wear that bracelet to bed and I never broke 80 again. I said, alright, it’s obviously not the bracelet.
Aside from Finkbine Golf Course, if you could choose another as your home course, which would it be?
T Metzendorf: I really like the courses at Pinehurst (N.C.). We went there my freshman year for a tournament and it was so much fun. Then I had a tournament there this summer and I played really, really well. My dad caddied for me and it was just a fun weekend. There is so much history behind Pinehurst — some of the great players that have walked the course and the caddies have all been there for so long.
Being from Florida, what is the biggest misconception you had about the state of Iowa while growing up? T Metzendorf: That there was nothing but corn in Iowa. I love Iowa City. My best friend came out and visited me during my freshman year. Now when we’re back home hanging out, she tells everyone that she has been to Iowa and it was so much fun. Everyone in Iowa is so cool and it is such a pretty place. It’s not just corn and soybeans everywhere.
What has been your most memorable moment at the University of Iowa so far?
T Metzendorf: The home tournament my freshman year (2005). It was my first college tournament and my dad came out. I was trying to think of it as just a regular tournament. It turned out to be almost like a regular summer golf tournament and I played well and won it (with a 54-hole score of 220). That was a pretty awesome experience.
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“The girls on the team are just awesome. They’re my best friends and we do pretty much everything together. Traveling to tournaments — we go to awesome places. We’re going to Hawaii and Mexico this year and it’s like going on vacation with my best friends. It’s an awesome experience. We’re so close and you really couldn’t ask for anything better.”
Iowa junior Tyrette Metzendorf
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In your sport there are not thousands of fans and no marching band. How does a Division I golfer get motivated to compete meet after meet?
T Metzendorf: I’ve never had any of that throughout my golfing career, so it’s not something I expect. For golf tournaments I had my parents there watching me and maybe a few friends. There was never a big group of people following me, so it just kind of transferred into college golf.
Have you ever fired a hole-in-one?
T Metzendorf: No, but I’ve been close a couple times. It takes a lot of talent and a lot of luck. I’ve never quite got lucky enough. I’ve had it roll right past the hole but never go in. I’ve had it hit the stick, but then it wouldn’t fall down. The odds of it actually happening are so slim.
What is your favorite part about being a member of the University of Iowa women’s golf team?
T Metzendorf: The girls on the team are just awesome. They’re my best friends and we do pretty much everything together. Traveling to tournaments — we go to awesome places. We’re going to Hawaii and Mexico this year and it’s like going on vacation with my best friends. It’s an awesome experience. We’re so close and you really couldn’t ask for anything better.
Which golf quote more accurately describes you: Mark Twain saying that golf is a good walk spoiled, or Ben Hogan saying the only thing a golfer needs is more daylight?
T Metzendorf: Ben Hogan. Summer golf is so much fun. It stays light out until 9 o’clock. My friends and I would spend the entire day on the course. We would get done playing, go in and eat lunch and then go back to the course. If I’m with my friends and we’re out on the course and we’re playing well, we could be out there all day. It’s just so much fun.
How did you get your start playing golf?
T Metzendorf: When I was little, my dad wanted me to try playing golf for a year with Cayman Balls on par-3 courses. He told me to try it a year and if I didn’t like it, I could quit. I did it for a year and it was OK, so I did it another year and actually became pretty good at it. I’m not good at basketball or softball – I’m not athletic in that sense at all. Golf was the first sport I was actually good at, so I started to really like it.
How do you typically spend your time when you’re not on the golf course?
T Metzendorf: I’m either in class, studying, or watching a movie or TV with my roommates. I love the Will Ferrell movies. I love Wedding Crashers, Talladega Nights and all those stupid movies.
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