By Bruce BourquinStaff Writer
The serene country of Sweden has introduced several items to theworld. The Nobel Prize, smorgasbords, dynamite and EricssonTechnologies are all major contributions from this Viking land.
Count Asa Jankler (UL-sa YAN-klur) as another successful Swedishimport. The San Diego State golfer has had her share of success forthe Aztecs. She’s helped the team to its current No. 38 ranking, is3-1 against the top 50 players in the country and owns a .702 winningpercentage.
“I’ve been real confident and aggressive with my driver,” Janklersaid. “This makes it real easy on my second shots and putting, whichis 50 percent of my game.”
Jankler grew up in Stockholm, where she groomed her game playingin the oft-inclement weather. After high school, she sharpened herskills with the Swedish Golf School in Marbella, Sweden, where shegot the chance to travel to Europe and play different courses.
Jankler said she was forced to become more precise in Europebecause of the rough terrain.
“We have lots of pine trees there,” Jankler said. “It helps usbecome more accurate.”
The trees in Oregon must’ve reminded her of her homeland, becauseshe finished third at the Oregon State Invitational last fall inEugene. This fall, Jankler had her career-best second-place finish atCorvallis, Ore.
Also, being from Sweden, the marketing junior said she looked upto PGA golfer Jesper Parnevik, a fellow Swede.
“He’s a superstar; our version of Tiger Woods,” Jankler said ofParnevik. “He was my role model as a player.”
Upon her finish at the golf school, she moved to San Diego toattend Cuyamaca College for a year. Jankler won the MVP in the OrangeEmpire Conference with a 75.6 shooting average, and SDSU head coachDiana Falar recruited her.
After a respectable sophomore season, in which she playedregularly, Jankler opened her Fall 2000 season with a second-placefinish at the Oregon State Shanico Invitational last September. Thetree-friendly atmosphere, reminiscent of European courses, may havecontributed to her five over-par finish.
The next tournament at the Northern Arizona University LumberjackInvitational proved to be a struggle for Jankler. She was battling awrist injury, though the Aztecs finished with another high finish atthird.
“I had to put ice on the wrist in the final round,” Jankler said.”I couldn’t release or follow-through at all.”
Jankler said Falar has helped her tremendously in honing her game.
“I’m fortunate to know coach Falar since I was in junior college,”Jankler said. “She’s taught me how to manage the courses better andhas always been supportive of me.”
Jankler also notes her teammates help keep her loose and relaxed.
“They’re fun people to be around,” Jankler said. “We combineserious play on the courses with a lot of fun off them. I’ve alsolearned better team spirit, and how to support my teammates whetherthey’re playing well or not.”
In two weeks, Jankler said her teammates will compete at the SDSUFall Classic at Lake San Marcos. She hopes her wrist will heal bythen, as the team finishes play at the Heather Fall Classic today.
“We hope to play well,” Jankler said. “I just have to believe inmy game, and hopefully I can get into the top 10.”
