Ragnheiður Jónsdóttir | August. 5. 2013 | 22:00

Introducing Icelanders who play on US College Golf teams no. 10: Sunna Víðisdóttir – Icelandic Champion in Stroke Play 2013

The interview tonight is with Sunna Víðisdóttir, GR (i.e. of Golf Club Reykjavík) who became Icelandic Champion in Stroke Play on July 28th 2013.  The Icelandic Championship in Stroke Play was this time held at Golf Course Korpúlfsstaðir which is Sunna´s home course. Sunna is also one of many Icelanders who plays on US College Golf teams; Sunna´s team being the golfteam of Elon in North Carolina.

In 2011 Sunna, along with Bjarki Pétursson from GB (i.e. the Golf Club of Borgarness) was chosen Iceland´s most promising golfers.

That same year Sunna received the Cup from her Golf Club in Iceland The Golf Club of Reykjavík for most sportsmanship.

 Sunna has been on Team Iceland since she was a teenager a.o. 2012 and 2013, taking part in scrimages abroad, for example one which was held at Eagle Creek in Florida,  February 2012 (when the weather gets rather nasty in Iceland and it´s almost impossible to practice golf outdoors).

Sunna holds the course record (67 strokes from the blue tees – women´s competition tee´s in Iceland) on the Westmanna Islands golfcourse, a feat she achieved on the 2nd tournament of the Eimskips series (a series of golftournaments in Iceland which is open for everyone to compete in, yet only the best compete each year in a series of 6 tournaments). In fact Sunna was only 16 when she won her first tournament on the Eimskip series at the Urriða golfcourse of Golf Club Oddur with a total of 217 strokes (74 70 73).

In 2012 Sunna became Icelandic Junior Champion in Stroke Play age group 17-18; the Championship also being held at Korpúlfsstaða Golf Course.

Sunna has taken part in several competions abroad. Sunna was for example one of four players (along with Bjarki Pétursson GB, Ragnar Már Garðarsson, GKG and Guðrún Brá Björgvinsdóttir, GK) who participated in the European Young Masters, held at the Royal Balaton Golf Club, Balatonudvari, Hungary from 22 to 24. July 2010.

Sunna also took part in the European Ladies Club Trophy in Greece 2011 and for example the European Golf Team Champioship, which was held at GC St. Leon Rot in Germany in 2012. Competitiors were 120 from all over Europe and Sunna claimed 14th place in the individiual competition part of the tournament. In the same tournament Sunna along with Guðrún Brá Björgvinsdóttir, GK and Anna Sólveig Snorradóttir became European Champions in Shoot-Out!

Sunna´s most recent participation in a tournament abroad is in the European Ladies Amateur Team Championship, which took place July 9th-13th 2013 in England.

Sunna competed with her golfteam at Elon the 2012-2013 season.  The first tournament she took part in in the Staates was the Terrier Intercollegiate held in Spartansburg South-Carolina, in september 2012. She ended up T-27, which was a rather good result considering she was getting adjusted to everything in College, the change in food, climate and culture and being away from Iceland.  At the Great Smokies (her  second tournament in the Staates she claimed 7th place – a top-10 result as soon as in her second tournament!!!)  Sunna fared fairly well for the rest of her freshmen season the highpoint of her freshman year though Sunna´s victory, the 1st place at the High Point University (skammst. HPU)  Classic tournament, in Willow Creek CC at High Point,  North-Carolina, this past February!!!

It will be a joy to follow Sunna´s endavours in US College in golfseasons to come!!!

Here is the interview with the Icelandic Champion in Stroke Play 2013 (Please not that this is an older interview taken shortly before Sunna went to study at Elon in North-Carolina a year ago in 2012):

Full Name: Sunna Víðisdóttir.

Which Golf Club are you a member of in Iceland? The Golf Club of Reykjavík, (abbreviated GR)

Where and when were you born? I was born in Reykjavík,  October 4th 1994.

Where did you grow up? I have lived Grafarvogur almost all my life except for last season, since I study and play golf in North-Carolina.

What is your family status? Does anyone in your family play golf? I live with my mom and dad and 10 year old brother. Everyone plays golf in my family.

When did you start playing golf?  I went to a golfclinic for kids 2006, 11 yrs. old and I got my first  membershipcard to play the little 9-hole golfcourse by Korpúlfsstaða golfcourse.  The following year I was practicing golf all the time.

What made you start playing golf? My dad has been playing since he was a teenager and my mom has been playing golf for several years. Once they were going to Spain in the fall and said I could come along if I started practicing golf!

What are you majoring in at Elon?  I’m in business and marketing.

Which do you like better parkland or links style courses? Parkland courses.

Which do you like better match play or stroke play? Stroke play is fun, because then every aspect is up to you; but in match play, one can blow one hole yet be successful.

What is your favorite golf course in Iceland? Korpúlfsstaða golfcourse in Reykjavík.

What is your favorite golf course / facility anywhere in the world? TPC Sawgrass in Florida.

How did you fare at the famous par-3 17th at TPC Sawgrass? I got into a bunker, but got up and down for a par.

What is the most unique golf course that you have played and why? The most unique golf course that I have played is Royal Balaton in Hungary because there was water at each single hole. One better hit it straight or else  one would be in trouble and the score not under 90.

What´s your handicap? 0.

What is the lowest score in golf and where did you achieve that? 67 on the Westmanna Islands golfcourse.

What is your longest drive? It´s  usually around  215 meters (235 yards), while the longest is 270 meters (295 yards) the wind in my back and downhill.

What is your main achievement to date in golf (N.B.: Sunna was asked this question in August 2012)? It was the albatross, which I got at the Icelandic Junior Stroke Play Championship in Grafarholt in the summer of 2011.

What snacks do you have in the bag? I usually have a full corn  sandwich with chicken or ham, lettuce and peppers; bananas and a protein drink.

Have you participated in other sports? I was a very much into sports when I was younger i.e in soccer and got a knee injury. Then came that  time that I had to choose and I chose golf.

Which is more fun golf or soccer? Golf.

What is your favorite food, favorite drink, favorite music, favorite movie and favorite book? My favorite food is my grandmother´s smoked bayonham with mushroom sauce;  my favorite drinks are water or floridana health juices, when it comes to music, I listen to everything; favorite movie: Pass and my favorite book is the one I’m reading presently each time; I´ve recently read Zen Golf.

Who is your favorite golfer, name one female and one male golfer? Male: Adam Scott. Female: Michelle Wie.

What is your favorite club?  My favorite club is my driver.

Have you been to a golf teacher?  Yes, Árni Páll Björnsson.

Are you superstitious? No, not at all.

What do you estimate the percentage of the psychological aspect of your golf game is percent wise in competitions? About 50%.

What is the main objective in golf and in life? My primary long term goal is to get on the LPGA; my short term goal is to study in college and do well and the main objective in life is just to enjoy each day and live life to the fullest.

What do you like best about golf? How up and down type of a sport golf is and that you can always find ways to improve yourself.

Do you have some good advice you can give golfers? Practicing your short game well and try not to be nervous on the golfcourse. That way you´ll enjoy playing.

If only you could choose three players to play with, who would they be?  Michelle Wie, Adam Scott and Tiger Woods.