Hi-Line Athlete Profile: Jeremy Jensen

Former Havre Blue Pony Jeremy Jensen grew up learning the game of golf in Havre. And while he took his talents to Coeur

Montana State University-Northern golfer Jeremy Jensen chips towards a green during a Frontier Conference golf tournament last month. Jensen, a Havre High golf product is part of the inaugural men's golf team at Northern. He recently shot a 64 at the Rocky Mountain Invitational in Billings, and is helping to jump-start the MSU-Northern men's program after two outstanding years at North Idaho College.

d'Alene, Idaho and North Idaho College for two years, now it's as if he never left.

Jensen just wrapped up the fall season as a junior on the inaugural Montana State University-Northern men's golf team. And he did it in fine fashion. Jensen recently shot a personal best 64 at Peter Yegen Golf Course in Billings. The round helped him finish third overall at the Rocky Mountain Invitational. It was the highest finish ever for a Northern golfer.

And while Jensen's had plenty of success in his lengthy Havre golf career and beyond, competing at the Class A state tournament three times as Blue Pony, including an eighth-place finish as a junior and a third-place finish as a senior, as well as participating in two NJCAA National Tournaments while Cardinal, he's back in Havre to continue a budding golf career. He's also here to finish his education and help build the foundation for Northern men's golf with former Blue Ponies Matt Hedstrom and Brett Normandy.

Here's five questions with the Lights' new golfer and one of Havre High's best.

HDN: As a longtime hacker, I can't imagine shooting a 64. What was going that low in a tournament like?

Jensen: "It was the first time I had shot in the 60's in a tournament. And I didn't realize I had went that low until after the round was over. I had a bogey early and really didn't start off that well, but then I made some birdies and got on a hot streak. To finally realize I could shoot a score like that, and to see my score when the round was over, it was a pretty special feeling."

HDN: What are some of the bigger differences between high school and college golf?

Jensen: "For one, the courses we play on in college are a lot harder. There's also a lot more time you have to invest in college golf with practice and everything. You also have to make every round count. Every score is important, and it's not like just making the state tournament through one round at divisionals. You have to shoot good scores to qualify for bigger tournaments. So every score really matters."

HDN: Montana has become a hotbed for golf courses. What's one of your favorite things about playing golf in Montana?

Jensen: "You get to play in and see the seasons change and it happens really fast here. It's challenging to adapt to all the different types of weather you have to play in Montana. You have to always adapt your game to the weather and the conditions, and how the courses change throughout the year. It's really nice to play in all the different types of seasons."

HDN: What's it like being from Havre and being on the first-ever men's golf team at Northern.

Jensen: "I was actually more excited to come here and help kickstart this program than I was when I signed with North Idaho. I already knew some of the guys on the team, I get a chance to come home and play in front of my parents and my family. It's exciting because I knew there would be more support here from the community and everybody. And when I look back on it, I'll be able to say I helped try and get this program up to the level of teams like LC State and Rocky Mountain. It's pretty special knowing I'm part of the first team at Northern."

HDN: Your dad Jeff is a very good golfer in his own right, and has been part of the local golf scene for a long time. How much did you learn from him, and who wins nowadays?

Jensen: "My dad taught me the fundamentals of the game, but he also taught me how to be smart on the course. He taught me to never waste shots, to make every shot count and to try my best every single time I played. He's always been there for me, we go over every round after every tournament, and he critiques me, but it's always a good critique. I know he'll always be there to help me with my game. As for who wins, he'd like me to say we tie every time we play (laughing), but these days I pretty much win every time."