Feb. 15, 2013

STANFORD, Calif. - Senior Steve Kearney received Stanford's only qualifying spot for the 2013 Amer Ari Invitational. He led the team at the start of the tournament with a three-under-par 69. Kearney went on to card a 72 and a 67 to tie for fourth. On the final round, he recorded seven birdies.

GoStanford.com: You had a career-best finish tying for fourth, as well as a personal-best round of 67, at the Amer Ari Invitational. Talk about that experience, how you felt and what that tournament meant to you.

Kearney: Last week was a tremendous experience. I have been working extremely hard on both my golf game and my mental game during the offseason. It was great to have some success and I look forward to continuing the momentum into Palm Springs.

GoStanford.com: What inspired you to play golf? Also, what motivated you to keep taking your game to the next level?

Kearney: I used to hit plastic clubs in the living room when I was two. My parents said I used to watch golf on TV for hours at a time. I have always loved the game and wanted to play professionally since I was really young. There have been a few stages in my golf career that have given me the motivation to keep getting better. Winning my first tournament when I was 12, making the varsity golf team as a freshman in high school, and getting the call to play for Stanford are just a few of these.

GoStanford.com: What is your favorite aspect of golf?

Kearney: I love hitting my driver. I have always hit the ball far ever since I was a kid and it never gets old to bomb one down the middle.

GoStanford.com: Tell us how you have changed as an athlete and student since you came to Stanford.
Kearney: I have become much more mature as a player since arriving at Stanford. I grew up hitting the ball as hard as I could and struggled putting. I have become a student of the game, always looking for more ways to get better around the greens and putting controlled swings on the ball.

GoStanford.com: How does your senior season compare to your first three seasons?
Kearney: This year has gone by very fast. The only difference is that I feel I have progressed more as a player. I have been around a number of great players over my years here and have received a lot of great advice.

GoStanford.com: You are a senior sociology major with a quarter and a half to go. Talk about your golf and professional plans after you graduate.

Kearney: I plan on playing amateur events this summer and then pursuing my professional golf career before Q-School begins.

GoStanford.com: What has golf taught you about yourself?

Kearney: Golf has taught me how to channel patience into competitiveness. Golf is all about keeping emotions under control and knowing when it is the right time to be aggressive. It's a marathon.

GoStanford.com: If you could play golf anywhere in the world with anyone across time, which course and which player would you choose?

Kearney: Tiger at Stanford Golf Course when he was on the team. I would love to see how he played the course and what he shot on a regular day out here.

- By Estela-Marie Go, Stanford Athletics

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