Biography

My golf career from junior to professional

Sporty Childhood

From childhood various sports have fascinated me, even as a 5-year-old boy I played ice hockey with the ice hockey club in Flims and later with the ice hockey club Chur. Until 1999, I was a member of the State of Grisons tennis squad.

The Beginning of my Golf Career

In the autumn of 1997 at the age of 13, I was introduced to golf by chance with a tennis colleague of mine, just for fun we tried to hit golf balls as far as possible on the driving range at Golf Club Domat/Ems (Switzerland) and after a few hours on the driving range the passion of golf had captured me! In the spring of 1998, I received my certificate to play on golf courses and by the end of 1999 I already received an invitation to join the regional squad. Soon I was quite successful and in April 2000 I made my debut, thanks to a wildcard at the Championship of Ticino at a Swiss Golf Association (ASG) tournament after which I directly entered the top ten of the Swiss golf elite! After other top results at Swiss amateur tournaments, I could travel abroad with the association to my first international tournament. Championship titles at the club and State of Grisons followed and my golf career had already become very successful.

National Team

In 2001 I gained a place in the boys national team, won the Junior Interclub Swiss Championship title with Golf Club Domat/Ems and also won my first Swiss Junior Tour event in Lugano. At the end of 2001 I was a scratch-player (4 years after my first golf shot) and I came eighth in the amateur Swiss Order of Merit. In order to dedicate myself more intensively to golf, in 2002 I decided to enter a distance learning program.

Junior Tournaments USA

A training program in the USA in winter 2002/03, during which I played several tournaments on the Winter International Junior Tour, proved that I could also be successful, even in America. In winter 2003/04, I won two US tournaments playing with juniors from all over the world.

Touching the Professional Tour

In 2003 I celebrated my first win at a professional/amateur tournament, wins at the Neuchâtel Open and another Grisons Championships title followed. In addition, I qualified as one of the three best Swiss amateurs for the Omega European Masters (European Tour) in Crans Montana, where I just missed the cut by only a few strokes.

Two-time Swiss Champion

I again got ahead with my golf, in summer 2004 I was Swiss Champion of the Juniors and Match play, and also runner-up-champion of Stroke Play.

Life in the USA

US College golf coaches became aware of my good scores and offered me a scholarship for studies and a membership in their golf team. In 2004, after passing the admission exams for US Colleges I started my studies at Augusta State University (Georgia) and played tournaments all over the USA for one of the best college golf teams.

World Championships 2004

Another highlight followed, after several participations at the individual and team European championships, with my two team colleagues (M. Rominger and N. Sulzer) we got by far the best result of any Swiss Team; where we came fourth at the World Championships in Puerto Rico in October 2004.

European Championships 2005

In July 2005 I was again successful, winning in England the first amateur European Championships medal for Switzerland with my national team colleagues. Furthermore, I was runner-up at the Swiss Amateur Stroke Play Championships.

Back from the USA

In summer 2006 I came back from the USA, played all the big amateur tournaments in Europe and I represented Switzerland at the World University Championships in Turin (Italy). In addition, I made all three cuts at the Alps-Tour events I played (Mini-Pro-Tour) and won the Neuchâtel Open (amateurs).

Preparatory Year 2007

During the winter of 2007, I practiced at my university in Augusta and played tournaments in the USA, South Africa and Europe to get ready for promotion to the professionals. On the 15th September 2007 the hour arrived to turn professional.

Professional 2008 to 2010

The start to my professional career was nothing spectacular; I could gain a great deal of experience and achieve some top-ten-results.

Exploit 2011

With my 3rd place finish at the PGA TOUR Canada Qualifying School, I qualified as the first Swiss player ever for a major golf tour (PGA TOUR Canada) in North America as a “full exempt member”. After some time to acclimatize to the new continent and tour, I was capable to finish in the prize money every time starting in the middle of the season. I learned a lot, made progress and under pressure I am now able to consistently finish tournament rounds on difficult championships courses under par. Several times I competed with the leading group and I know that I am close to top finishes.

PGA TOUR Canada 2012 and twice Swiss Champion

After qualifying for the PGA TOUR Canada Tour as a full member again, I was able to raise my performance and my results were more consistent. Almost every time I was placed in the prize money and a few times I was able to compete in the leader groups.  During the summer break I won the Omnium Suisse (Swiss championships for professionals and amateurs) and the Swiss PGA Championships (all professionals from Switzerland). On top of that, I was able to qualify as one of the four best Swiss players for the Omega European Masters in Crans Montana.

Career Change

The 2013 season on the PGA TOUR Canada was not as desired, my miserable putting prevented good results. At the end of the season, I lost my tour card, so I had to go back to qualifying school in 2014, where unfortunately, I did not succeed. I started to think about other opportunities for me in the golf business. The various further education programs I completed during my professional career in golf management opened new perspectives for me, I was elected as General Manager & Director of Golf at Lucerne Golf Club, Switzerland. Starting in 2015, I will start this exciting challenge and I am looking forward to welcome members and guests at one of the oldest and most beautiful golf courses of Switzerland.