Hi-Line Athlete Profile: T.J. Reynolds, MSU-N Golf/Basketball

Montana State University-Northern golfer T.J. Reynolds, like everybody else, has had to wait for winter to pass to get back on the links. But after five months of waiting to compete again, he will finally get the chance as he competes in the Frontier Conference Championship in Eagle, Idaho, Monday.

"It's exciting. I've played quite a bit this spring and I'm looking forward to the challenge," Reynolds said.

During the winter break from golf, Reynolds did not sit idle as he competed for the Lights' basketball team. The transition was not hard as he had been working out for basketball in the mornings during the fall. He then went to class all day and would golf in the afternoon. With basketball now over, Reynolds only has golf to focus on.

Reynolds got into both basketball and golf growing up in Shelby. His father is a former basketball star player for the Havre Blue Ponies and is currently the head coach for the Shelby high school team.

"He didn't force me into it," Reynolds said. "It was something that I chose, but I really wanted to play for him."

His father played basketball in college, as well, playing at MSU-N for two years and then two years at Montana Western. Reynolds' father is not the only family member to play basketball. His mother also played college ball at Montana Western and his uncle won a state championship for Havre High.

During his summers growing up, Reynolds got into golf as he spent time on the Marias Valley Golf Course. Unlike most sports, golf allows him to compete with family members both young and old.

"My favorite thing about golf is that it's generational so it's the one sport that I can do with my brother, my dad and my grandpa (Tom Reynolds Sr.)," Reynolds said. "That's our foursome a lot of times in the summer and I really enjoy it."

Reynolds is now getting ready to compete for a Frontier Conference Championship next week. Even though he does not believe he has had the best season, he looks forward for another chance to compete.

"I don't think I've played to my full potential yet, but there's one more tournament left and it's the big one and I'm looking forward to it," Reynolds said.

Reynolds will hit the course in Eagle, Idaho, Monday to compete. Before then, the Havre Daily News got the chance to ask Reynolds five questions.

HDN: What do you love the most about basketball?

Reynolds: "I would say the relationships that I get with my teammates. I really love the strategy of the game."

HDN: What's it like coming from a basketball family?

Reynolds: "I really enjoyed it. I don't know life outside of it, and we really enjoy the game and are very competitive, and I've enjoyed it the whole time."

HDN: Does your dad still give you coaching tips?

Reynolds: "He leaves it to Coach Huse. We don't really talk a whole lot about basketball anymore actually. When we do talk about basketball, we're helping out with my little brother, he's sending me game tapes to watch and using some college ideas and bring them down to the high school level."

HDN: What do you love the most about golf?

Reynolds: "Probably the frustration part. It's a game that you can't perfect ever and you will think you have something figured out one day and then the next day it's something totally different. It's just a different challenge every time you tee it up."

HDN: Do you have any hobbies outside of sports?

Reynolds: "My summers, I spend a lot of time on the golf course but my girlfriend got me into hiking quite a bit, and so we've done a lot of hiking in the summers. I personally like Glacier the best but she loves her Bitterroot Valley She's from Missoula and Florence."