4/11 boys golf: Onalaska's Jorgensen ready to lead the way

By TODD SOMMERFELDT / La Crosse Tribune

ONALASKA, Wis. — Jason Jorgensen was once a follower on the Onalaska High School boys golf team.

With the players in place for a program of Onalaska’s caliber, he didn’t have much choice.

The fact that Jorgensen has been a solid contributor for the Hilltoppers since he was a freshman tells you all you need to know about his golfing skills. But it’s leadership and an emphasis on the mental approach to the game

that will make Jorgensen more valuable than ever as a senior.

“He can show the rest of the guys what it’s all about,” Onalaska coach Dick Kyes said. “He’s been there, and he’s been there a lot.

“It’s hard for a kid that age to basically be another coach out there, but that’s what we expect of him.”

Jorgensen has golfed in two WIAA Division 1 state tournaments, and his summers have been full of success in tournaments both locally and beyond.

His experience could play an important role in the Hilltoppers’ potential success this spring.

“That gave me a lot of confidence,” Jorgensen said of golfing well enough to place among the team’s top four as early as his freshman season. “I was playing with older guys, and they were really good, but I was making pars just like they were.”

Onalaska has won the past seven Mississippi Valley Conference championships. It also has played in five state tournaments since 2002.

Jorgensen, who placed fourth individually in last season’s final MVC standings, was there to help the

team place 10th in 2005 and fourth in 2006 before it missed out on the meet last year.

The team’s goal this year is to get back to state, especially since the Hilltoppers believe they didn’t finish last season at their best.

Seniors Clint and Cody Ferguson and juniors Mark Wittchow and Brad Preeshl are others in the mix to make that happen.

“If we would have played well and not made it, that would be one thing,” Kyes said. “But we didn’t play well, and that was disappointing.”

Just about everyone from that team gets the chance to redeem himself, although the Hilltoppers will have to golf without junior Mike Price, who will miss the season due to hip surgery.

Jorgensen, who will play collegiately at Viterbo University, has been a member of the All-MVC first team once and second team twice.

Jorgensen said he’s worked extensively with his swing, but Kyes said they’ve now sorted that out, and he’s ready to go.

“What we’ve tried to work on with him now is to try and think better out on the golf course,” Kyes said. “Understanding situations and putting the last shot behind him, that’s where he’s gotten a lot better.”

Jorgensen tackled his swing issues over the winter by getting to Northland Golf & Ski as much as he could. Sometimes, he’d get there three times in a week and sometimes once.

“I played basketball, and that took up most of my week, but I’d always get there on Sundays,” Jorgensen said. “If I had time, I’d get there more often.”

Todd Sommerfeldt can be reached at (608) 791-8208 or todd.sommerfeldt@lee.net

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