Brothers Qualify Together For APL

By Amy Pasternack, USGA

Far Hills, N.J. -- Qualifying for any USGA championship is a difficult process. Not only do competitors have to endure a long, arduous day on a challenging golf course, but they must also play at a high level just to make the field.

Brett and Brady Swedberg of Alexandria, Minn., did just that on June 25. The two brothers made it a family affair by sharing medalist honors at their 36-hole U.S. Amateur Public Links sectional site at Bunker Hills Golf Club in Coon Rapids, Minn., posting a 144 score. They now will join 154 other competitors at the APL, which this year is being played in their home state at Rush Creek Golf Club in the Minneapolis suburb of Maple Grove from July 12-17.

Although Brett, 22, and Brady, 20, currently reside in different parts of the country, they still love playing the game together. That competitive passion began when the two, starting in elementary school, steadily progressed through their junior golf days. For two years, they also played on the same high school golf team.

At the sectional qualifier, they were reunited again. They were familiar with Bunker Hills, both having played it numerous times. So they liked their chances even though 110 golfers were vying for just six spots.

Because so many golfers had filed an entry for the Minnesota sectional (228), a pre-qualifier was held to trim the number to 110. That number was subsequently cut to the lowest 50 and ties after the first 18 holes. The Minnesota qualifying site traditionally receives many entries since the state has a high number of public golfers.

Trying To Make Their Own History

Brett remained consistent throughout the qualifier, but younger brother Brady struggled during the morning 18. Nevertheless, Brady survived the cut and played well enough in the afternoon to gain his spot.

“Making the cut and winning the qualifier was the biggest golfing moment of my life,” said Brady.

If that was tough, the next step is even harder: qualifying for match play. Both the Swedbergs feel the Minnesota qualifiers (six from the Bunker Hills site and three others who made it in elsewhere) have an excellent shot of winning. The home-state advantage certainly helps.

The last time the USGA made a stop in Minnesota for the 2001 USGA State Team Championship, both the men's and women's teams from the state won their respective competitions (the men at Hazeltine National and women at Woodhill Country Club).

“It would be great for a Minnesota boy to win, but I know that there are so many great players and that competition gets harder with match play,” said Brett.

The last Minnesotan to win the APL was Jim Sorenson in 1985 (he lost in the 1986 final to Billy Mayfair. Brothers have also fared well in the competition and two sets of siblings have won the championship: Charles and Randy Barenaba in 1974 and '75, respectively, and Eddie (1976) and Jodie (1980-81) Mudd.

A little less than a year ago, Brady left home and his brothers, Derek, 24, and Brett to take a job in Arizona with his cousin and best friend. Although it was emotionally tough to leave most of the family, he knew he needed to work on his golf game. The golf-friendly climate of Arizona afforded him the chance to practice year round.

Bypassing college, Bradyurrently works at Kierland Golf Club in Scottsdale – the site of the 1995 USGA State Team competition – where he can devote much of his free time to honing his game. His ambitions include a career in the golf business, maybe even as a professional.

If playing competitively doesn't work out, Brett, a senior sports management major at St. Cloud State, would also like to work in the golf business following graduation. At St. Cloud, Brett was named to the 2004 Division II All-America first team.

He had a successful spring season, wining four tournaments, including the NCAA Division II Northwest Regional. He also helped St. Cloud win the team titles at all of those events along with a team title at the 2004 Northwest Regional Head-to-Head Tournament. At the NCAA Division II Championships, he finished sixth overall.

Although Brett and his two brothers have been playing golf together since they were young, he feels competition brings out his best play. Brady knows that Brett has more experience than him on the course and tends to have better course management.

“I hit the ball better,” said Brady. “But he finds a way to get the ball in [the hole].”

That desire to beat his older siblings is what fuels Brady's desire to work harder on his game. But it's a difficult task considering Brett's game also is improving.

“We both keep getting better,” said Brady. “So it just keeps getting harder to catch him.”

Even though the two live in different time zones, Brett says they talk on the phone at least once a week and try to visit each other a few times a year.

“My brothers and I are best friends,” said Brett.

Both APL-bound Swedbergs have also qualified for the 2004 Minnesota State Amateur, where all three brothers will be playing together. Brett and Brady also decided to play in the upcoming 36-hole U.S. Amateur sectional qualifier together since they have received so much attention for the APL.

Then again, it gives them another excuse to play together.

“My two brothers are the reason I play golf,” said Brady. “I love playing with them every day I get the chance.”

Amy Pasternack is an intern with the USGA. E-mail her with questions or comments at apasternack@usga.org .