About me
19 years old High School Senior living in Seinäjoki, Finland – about a three hour drive away from Helsinki, the Capital City.
I'm an enthusiastic athlete and golfer. From early childhood I've been inspired by all kinds of sports. As a child I was always finding my way to practice and play with my friends and school mates.
I love to compete. It doesn't matter if it's about the most important tournament of the ice hockey season or just a chill family board game night, I want my team to win. I think that competing especially in a team is one of the best ways to learn about myself and others. It teaches me how to control my emotions under pressure and how to work with my teammates so that everyone can get the best out of themselves.
Golf becomes pretty easily a lonely sport and usually most of the work is done alone. Besides, I love having other players practicing with me. It gives me a chance to challenge them and push them to their limits and they can do that to me as well. I've noticed that every time I'm practicing with a golfer, that has some ability better than I do, it awakens some sort of hunger in me. I got to get better. I also like leading. Often in golf and other sports, I have been able to get other players interested and motivated to practice. It has happened simply by training harder myself. People become the average of five persons they hang around the most, so I'm trying my best to have good influence on others.
My competitiveness provides a huge benefit to my everyday life. I've created a mindset for myself, that I'm in competition against "yesterday me", every day. I can always be a little better than yesterday, and that makes the journey of life so fascinating. As golfer I have a lot to learn, which constantly energizes me to improve all aspects of my game. As an athlete, my focus is always on getting better and trying to find the best way to get there. For the guidance and mentoring I am grateful to Juha Skyttä, who is a PGA professional and has been my personal coach since 2023. I also want to thank my parents for love and support they have always given me in all aspects in life.
I started my athletic career with Finnish Baseball - the national sport in Finland - at the age of six. At the same age I also started playing ice hockey, which I fell in love with. I started my High School at Kuortane Olympic training center at the age of 16. I played ice hockey at national division two level with the under 18 and under 16 age groups.
Golf
My dream job from the childhood to this point of life has always been a "professional athlete". I have been priviledged to have various options to choose from as I have been exposed to and taken an interest in various disciplines early on. I first told myself that ice hockey was the love of my life, until I tripped and fell in the amazing world of golf. I have been around golf from middle school, but golf did not ever really get much time of my already busy schedule. I started the 2023 season with a handicap of 30. In the end of it, my hcp had dropped down to 9,5. It was clear, I found the love and passion of my life.
After noticing my ability to learn the dynamics of golf pretty easily I knew that I needed a good coach to help me improve. I loved the fact, that I could basically practice as much as I had time, but I was aware that without proper instruction, my daily 7 hour training sessions would most probably just go down the drain. We started working with Juha Skyttä in the end of 2023 season, and during that winter, we got my swing in a very good shape.
In May of 2024, it was time for my first ever national golf competition. It was Finnish Junior Tour 1, played in Pickala golf "Park course". I was so nervous that I could barely sleep during the night before the first round. I shot 86, 85, MC, but I wasn't upset. I had shot a 38/36 on the first nine holes of the second round. That gave me a taste of what golf was all about. It revealed me that I know how to hit the ball, but the key of great golf is to be consistent. Gradually, during the 2024 season I started to learn more and more about the ways to perform the best. The average of my first four competitive rounds were 84,75 and on the last four it was 79,75. After the 2024 season my handicap had dropped from 9,5 to 1,8. I still have a lot to learn about performing more consistently but I'm on a good track.
As a golfer and athlete, my strengths are good physics and persistence. I have always been hard working and have spent thousands of hours practicing. I know what it takes to be the athlete I'm determined to be. In ten years, I can see myself holding a trophy after winning on the PGA tour. It will not be an easy route, but with consistent and high quality training mixed with passion, anything is possible.
Golf challenges me in various ways: I have to be in shape in all areas, including but not limited to physical and mental health, I have to work hard and eat healthy, sleep well and repeat. I have to know and read the course and weather conditions. The list goes on. As Ben Hogan has put it: "There are no shortcuts on the quest for perfection"
Season highlights 2024
National ratings:
Finnish Golf Association (Finnish Junior Tour, FJT)
FJAR 152nd
FJT Challenge ranking 57th
Best finish: 5th 1st of September 2024 with score 78/72 FJT Challenge @kokkolan golf
Lowest national competitive round: 77/72 4th of June 2024 FJT Challenge @Nurmijärvi golf
77/72 Finnish junior tour (FJT) 14th of September 2024 @Lahden golf
Finnish Tour: in Pirkkala golf competing with adults. MC, but had a good opportunity to see what it takes to compete in national level with adult golfers (79, 84,)
Current handicap index: 1,8
2024 Results can be found here
Upcoming events and Studies 2025
My plans for upcoming season.
In December right after Christmas, I will be playing in Spain for few weeks. I will also participate in the Lauro Golf tournament on January 3-5, 2025. It is very important to be able to play and practice in good facilities and decent weather after couple of months of winter and countless hours on Trackman in Finland.
Results for follow up the competition can be found here
At the offseason, my usual training day consist of exercise in the morning 6am to 7am (jogging or swimming) school hours 8am to 2pm, and golf training after school in Trackman or putting and wedges. Additionally, I will also work out at the local gym 3-4 times per week.
The Season in Finland will start in April with first tournament in Alastaro golf on the 27th of April. Footjoy Finnish junior tour will start on May 2nd in Sea Golf Rönnäs. During season 2025 I will participate in the Finnish Junior Tour FJT as well as the Finnish Tour FT.
I am currently Senior at High Shcool and will graduate in June 2025. I have ambitions to continue my academic career with focus on developing myself towards a professional golfer. As my family will be moving to the USA during the summer of 2025, I am looking for an opportunity to pursue college level studies with a career in golf.
Facts
19 years, 180cm (5'10") 80kg (176lbs)
Seinäjoki High School Senior student, graduation in Spring 2025
Home Club: Etelä-Pohjanmaan Golf
Home course: Ruuhikoskigolf @Seinäjoki
Personal coach: Juha Skyttä PGA
Plays golf on Finnish National Level FJT
Assistant coach for junior golfers @Ruuhikoskigolf and Etelä-Pohjanmaan Golf
Has played Ice hockey at Finnish national Division 2 level U16 and U18
Enthusiastic Athlete, always looking to improve in all areas of life
Check out my other videos @YouTube