Playing Through with Whitney Neuhauser

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March 2, 2007

The lone freshman on the Cavalier roster, newcomer Whitney Neuhauser hails from nearby Barboursville. She cracked the UVa lineup last fall and played in the team’s first spring event last week in Tucson. Let’s Play Through with Whitney Neuhauser:

Question: What is your favorite overall golf course and why?
Neuhauser: The Roanoke Country Club in Roanoke, Va., where they host the Scott Robertson Memorial every year. It sets up really well for my game, and it’s short, kind of like me.

Question: What is your favorite single golf hole and why?
Neuhauser: No. 11 at Glenmore CC has to rank first, because it’s where I got my only hole-in-one.

Question: What is your favorite club in your bag?
Neuhauser: My putter, because everyone knows it’s the money club.

Question: If you could play with any professional, who would it be?
Neuhauser: Tiger Woods. I don’t think enough people realize how great of an era in golf we are witnessing right now. I would even go so far as to say that I’ve never seen anyone dominate in any other sport quite the way that Tiger does in golf and it’s truly amazing.

Question: What is one golf rule you would like to change?
Neuhauser: I’d like to be able to rake footprints in the bunkers that other people made because there is nothing more frustrating than coming up to a shot that you’re already mad about because you hit it in the bunker and seeing your ball in some guy’s giant size 15 shoeprint.

Question: What is your favorite shot to hit?
Neuhauser: A slight draw (right to left) about 125 yards with an easy 9-iron.

Question: The strangest thing I ever saw on a golf course was …
Neuhauser: Hmm, I’ve seen a lot of strange things on the golf course, but when we were in Arizona, one of the groundskeepers accidentally drove his lawnmower into the lake bordering No. 18. Either the hill was much steeper than he thought or he really wasn’t paying attention…it was really funny.

Question: What is the current song/artist you listen to prior to playing?
Neuhauser: “Boston” by Augustana

Question: What do you love most about UVa and why?
Neuhauser: Everything. But if I have to pick one thing, probably the history and tradition that goes along with attending the University and being a Cavalier. Virginia is so well known throughout the country for its tradition as such an esteemed university and it is such a cool feeling to be out somewhere and have someone stop you and say, “Wow, you go to Virginia, you must be very proud.” All I can do is just say, “Yeah, I am.”

Question: What is your favorite food that you rarely eat?
Neuhauser: Mom’s pasta salad

Question: Who has your favorite nickname on the team?
Neuhauser: Leah Wigger is “Gimpy.”

Question: What do you want to buy with your first paycheck after you graduate?
Neuhauser: Probably rent and groceries

Question: If you could appear in any TV show it would be?
Neuhauser: Friends

Question: What is your greatest fear?
Neuhauser: Failure

Question: If you could travel back in time, what era would you visit?
Neuhauser: Ancient Rome in its prime, because when you think about it, when has one country ever ruled an empire quite so large since then?! It’s simply amazing.

Question: If you could have any superpower it would be….
Neuhauser: The ability to go back in time…so I could alleviate my tendency to procrastinate.

Question: The one condiment I can’t live without…
Neuhauser: Ketchup!

Question: Which actor/actress would you pick to play you in a movie?
Neuhauser: Claire Danes or Kate Hudson

Question: What is your favorite hobby?
Neuhauser: Sleeping

Question: What is your favorite character from a book?
Neuhauser: Harry Potter

Question: What is the most embarrassing song on your iPod?
Neuhauser: I listen to a lot of classical music, which I guess for a kid my age is kind of embarrassing. Although if you’ve never listened to classical before, you really should, because it’s really good for you.

Question: What is your favorite UVa tradition?
Neuhauser: The Good `Ole Song. It gives me chills when we’re at a game or something and all the students are singing it together like one big happy family. It’s also kind of cool to be able to go somewhere and have alumni start singing it to you just out of the blue.

Question: The most exotic place I ever visited…
Neuhauser: For my high school graduation present, my sister and I traveled through Europe for 10 days. We stopped in Italy in a group of towns on the western coast called Cinque Terra. It was absolutely beautiful and the food was awesome!

Question: My favorite museum…
Neuhauser: The Louvre, in Paris. If you ever get to go to Paris, you have to make a stop at The Louvre.

Question: Best non-athletic talent…
Neuhauser: Laughing or writing

Check back for more profiles on members of the UVa women’s golf team, including more answers from Whitney.