Read Golfer Bo Hoag’s Chat from Friday – Ohio State Buckeyes

Freshman from Upper Arlington answered fans’ questions

COLUMBUS, Ohio Freshman Bo Hoag of the Ohio State men’s golf team held a live online chat to answer fans’ questions Friday on OhioStateBuckeyes.com. Hoag, a native of Upper Arlington, Ohio, was named Second Team All-Big Ten during his first season of collegiate golf. He led the Buckeyes at the Big Ten championships, tying for 10th at 9-over 297. Hoag is one of only two golfers on the team to have played in all 31 rounds this season and ranks third in stroke average at 73.13. He has carded nine rounds under par, including five rounds in the 60s, and has four Top 10 finishes.

Hoag and Ohio State will host the 2008 NCAA Central Regional May 15-17 at The Ohio State University Golf Club’s Scarlet Course in Columbus, Ohio. The regional features 27 teams and six individual golfers. The Buckeyes are making their 42nd NCAA tournament appearance and the 31st under head coach Jim Brown. Fellow Ohio teams Kent State and Cleveland State will compete in the Central Regional, along with four Big Ten teams. Teams tee off in the morning beginning at 7 a.m. for 18 holes each day and the Top 10 teams will advance to the NCAA championships.

ohiostatebuckeyes.com::	Bo is here so we will go ahead and begin.

Angie:UA:	what’s your favorite course to play on?

Bo::	My favorite course to play is Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin. It provides the biggest variety I have seen on a golf course. Just about every hole is a good or a great hole. On a lot of courses you get a couple holes that aren’t appealing but Muirfield they are all good.

Sam:Columbus:	you were a great high school golfer, what made you pick ohio state?

Bo::	I wanted to find a college that provided me the opportunity to earn a well-respected degree and play for a competitive program. When choosing a school, something that was very important to me was a program’s tradition. OhioState’s certainly near the top. If all of those former players made the PGA Tour, it can definitely be accomplished today.

Tom:Powell:	Are you happy to have regionals at home? Does that help the Buckeyes?

Bo::	We are very fortunate to host regionals. It is a great opportunity for us to have a home-field advantage and know things that other teams won’t. There is a lot of local knowledge on Scarlet.

Billy:Upper Arlington:	Have you ever thrown a club or gotten a penalty like that?

Bo::	I can’t really remember throwing any clubs in my career. Once in a high-school tournament my freshman year I got frustrated and didn’t conduct myself in the best way. My high school Coach, Doug Geckeler, wasn’t to happy. Ever since then, I think I have stayed pretty cool on the course.

Johhny Duffer:Columbus:	How do you feel about the redesign of Scarlet?

Bo::	I think the redesign is great. It is MUCH more challenging now. Tighter off the tee, more slope in the greens, and longer. We are fortunate to have such a tough course. When we get to other tournaments, the courses often feel easy.

Lanie:Columbus:	When did you start playing golf? How did you get into the sport?

Bo::	Golf has been been big in my family for years. My grandfather, Bob Hoag, was a good player who often played with the likes of Nicklaus, Palmer and Player. My dad would take me to the range when I was a toddler. I would try to emulate what he did by knocking a ball around the house with a toilet plunger. Ever since then I’ve been hooked.

Fallon :Columbus:	What was the biggest challenge you faced going from high school to Division I golf?

Bo::	I think its been a lot tougher to manage my time with Division I golf. School is a lot harder or more time-consuming. As far as the golf, the courses may be a bit tougher, but I’m not trying to do anything more on the course than I did in high school. I try to get that little ball in the hole in as few strokes as possible!

Von:Columbus:	What do you believe is the most important aspect of golf? Driving, putting, chipping, or iron play?

Bo::	To be a good player you obviously have to drive the ball well and hit your irons well. There are thousands of players out there who can do that. But I think what separates those elite golfers is the ability to get the ball in the hole from 50 yards and in. A good short game and putting can turn a 74 into a 69, which adds up over the course of three or four rounds.

Danny:Mansfield:	Bo, first – congratulations on so quickly becoming one of the best college players. My question is: how do you hit a cut shot?

Bo::	To hit a cut, I really don’t try to do anything special. I aim the face of the club to my target, and aim my body and feet left. From there, I just swing to where my body and feet are aimed.

Theryman2000:Columbus:	What type of food suppliments do you eat to keep your energy up during play?

Bo::	I can’t think of a better food suppliment then a PayDay bar. Man, are they good. On top of being full of protein, they are salty, peanuty and delicious.

Hank:Dublin:	What do you feel is your strongest part of your game? What do you look to work on over the summer?

Bo::	I have always been a pretty good ballstriker. I hit my driver pretty straight and I hit a good amount of greens in regulation. However, as with anyone else, I don’t think I can work on my short game enough. That is my main focus around tournament time. I will work on all aspects of my game over the summer with emphasis on short game and putting.

Mike:Phoenix, AZ:	How much time do you spend practicing on a given day?

Bo::	I can’t say that I keep track of how many hours I practice a day, but i would guess I usually spend at least a few hours just practicing, not including playing. Sometimes after a tournament I may just practice for 45 minutes or an hour to avoid burnout.

Abby:CBus:	What do you like to do when you’re not on the course?

Bo::	When I’m not on the course, I’m just like any other kid. I enjoy hanging out with my friends and watching some TV. I can’t say that I have really had very much time to do that this year though. It seems that whenever I am not golfing, I am working out or doing schoolwork.

Cale:Upper Arlington:	What’s your summer golf schedule looking like?

Bo::	Right after school, I am going to play in the Monroe Amateur in Pittsford, NY. After that, I am going to play in the Northeast Amateur in Rhode Island. Then I am going to take some time off from competitive golf. Later in the summer, I want to play in the Ohio Amateur and of course, the coveted U.S. Amateur.

Von:Columbus:	Do you like to use a lot of spin on your chip shots or do you like to add more top spin?

Bo::	It all depends on what kind of shot you’re hitting. If there’s a lot of green to work with, you don’t want to spin it that much. But sometimes when the pin is cut close to the edge of the green, you have to spin it.

Bo::	Thanks for all of the questions. Come out to the Scarlet Course next week and watch us play in the NCAA Central Regional, May 15-17. Go Bucks!

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