Cale Leiviska: Young Gun, page 2, continued from page 1

DGM: Take us back to the first tee of the final round at the Minnesota Majestic in June. You were facing a tough showcase final with Barry Schultz, Jay Reading, and Chris Heeren breathing down your neck. What were your thoughts at the start of that round?

"I would say that driving is the strength of my game. I play a lot of hyzer shots and can throw 400 foot hyzers with pretty good accuracy."

CL: The only thought that was in my head before the round was that I needed to deuce hole one. I had a one stroke lead on Barry and I new he would 2 the short uphill hole one so this was a must for me if I wanted to win. I knew that the rest of the holes in the final were longer holes that I could most likely three and not lose any ground, so after I parked hole one, I was pretty confident about my chances to hold on. I was definitely shaking on the tee box though.

DGM: Take us back to the first tee of the final round at the Minnesota Majestic in June. You were facing a tough showcase final with Barry Schultz, Jay Reading, and Chris Heeren breathing down your neck. What were your thoughts at the start of that round?

DGM: Give us a sense of how that round progressed for you. Did you ever feel the tournament was in jeopardy?

CL: After a couple of holes, I was still maintaining my stroke lead and the hometown crowd was giving me lots of support and cheering for me even when I would drop in short par putts. They were giving me lots of positive energy and every hole that we played; I was gaining more confidence that I was going to be able to pull this one out. I hit a blind putt that I threw over a ledge down to the basket that put me up two strokes with three longer holes to play. When that putt landed in the basket, I really knew that it was my time to win.

DGM: Describe the strengths in your game. Do they vary from round to round or is there some part of your game that you always have confidence in?

CL: I would say that driving is the strength of my game. I play a lot of hyzer shots and can throw 400 ft hyzers with pretty good accuracy. My putting is what was holding me back a couple of years ago but it is improving every day. The most improved part of my game is the mental aspects however. I used to think I had to shoot perfect and gun at everything if I wanted to win. This would get me in too much trouble because I would try to do too much every round. I learned to just play smart and play my game and be solid enough to give myself a chance in the next round.

Cale with Discraft President Jim Kenner.

I love the saying that 'you can't win a tourney in the first round, but you can definitely lose one.'

DGM: What are some of your goals for the rest of the 2006 season? Are you looking forward to making a statement at either the USDGC or the Players Cup?

CL: My goals for the rest of the season are just to keep improving. I know now that I can compete with anyone when I am on top of my game. I plan on playing worlds for the first time this year as well as USDGC and players cup and if I could get top ten at each, then I might be satisfied. Right now I have the state championships to look forward to this weekend. I am the defending champion and I would love to get my name on the 26-year-old trophy again.

DGM: Where do you hope to be this time next year? Any plans to travel to more events in 2007?

CL: Well hopefully this time next year I will have graduated from the University of Minnesota. I have about 35 credits left so I should be done by then. I hope that I still will be able to play a lot next year, but I may have to find some "real work". I can't imagine playing any more tournaments than I have this year. One that I would love to play in next year is the European Championships in Finland. I have a lot of distant family there and I am looking forward to being there.

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