Osseo's Svac makes extra push to win boys' golf section title

Sitting five shots behind the leader after the first day of last week's Class 3A, Section 5 golf tournament, Osseo senior JJ Svac pondered his options.

He could play well enough in hopes of making the state tournament cut or he could win the section title and leave no doubt. He resolved to do the latter.

"Sometimes if you're just trying to qualify and not mess up, you might not play as well," Svac said. "So I was trying to win the section."

A blistering 68 on the second day at Bunker Hills Golf Course in Coon Rapids earned Svac the victory and padded an impressive résumé. Svac previously won co-medalist honors at the Northwest Suburban Conference championship match and posted the lowest average score in seven overall conference matches this spring.

Svac opens play in the state tournament on June 9 back at Bunker Hills. He spoke with Star Tribune reporter David La Vaque about his older brother's golf influence, two key holes on the second day of sections and how he keeps calm on the course.

Q: How did golf get into your life?

A: I really took it up competitively in eighth-grade. My older brother, Ross Miller, played golf at Osseo and Minnesota State and really introduced me to the game. When I was younger I tried to be like him. Then I started to enjoy it myself. I enjoy the competitive side of it.

Q: What has your brother taught you about the game?

A: I've learned a lot playing with him all the time during the summer the past few years. I've actually caddied for him in the U.S. Open sectional qualifier in Ohio. I tried to stay out of his ear.

Q: You eagled a par 5 on day two of sections. Which hole?

A: That was on No. 4 East. From playing the course in conference matches I know that it's a very scoreable hole; it's pretty short [464 yards]. I've actually always played that hole pretty well. I probably had my best drive of the day there and then definitely my best approach shot to about 10 feet from the hole. That helped my score a ton and was huge for my confidence.

Q: You ended your round with a birdie. Which hole?

A: That was No. 9 East. I was trying to hit to middle of the green, two-putt for par and get out of there. But I put a good stroke on the putt and it just went in.

Q: Your coach, Tim Theisen, called you Osseo's most improved golfer in 15 years. What went into that improvement?

A: My short game has gotten a lot better. But a lot of it has been my mental approach and believing in myself. After a bad hole I have the confidence to come back make a birdie.

Q: What was it like when you found out you realized your goal of winning a section title?

A: After I walked off the last green, my mom and dad were right there and were really happy. I got a high five from coach and hugs from my parents. It was a surreal feeling to accomplish a goal that I've been going after for a long time.

Q: How do you stay relaxed on the course during a round?

A: If I'm talking to the golfers in my group or my coach as he's walking with me, I try to talk about basically anything other than golf. At sections my coach and I were talking about the NBA playoff game from the night before.

Q: Going back to Bunker Hills for state — what is your experience with the course worth?

A: It's definitely an advantage to have your conference and section meet there. I know the course pretty well and I have a pretty good idea of what to do and where to hit. But I've got to really start practicing and hitting it hard before the state tournament because it's anybody's game.