Keith Martin has worked with Bethany Buchner since she was
eight years old, helping her with her golf swing, teaching
her the nuances of the game.In that time he said
he’s learned one thing, and that’s not to bet with or
against her.
Buchner’s parents have learned that, too, and there’s
a puppy and a car at their house to prove it.
“There’s a competitiveness in her,” Martin said. “I
don’t care what you’re doing — playing ping-pong or foosball
— she doesn’t care how good you are, she’s going to beat
you.
“You can’t teach that type of competitiveness. She has
a desire to succeed, and second isn’t succeeding.”
It’s that type of drive that has made Buchner, a
senior at Loveland High School, one of the top golfers in
the state, earning her a full-ride scholarship to the
University of New Mexico and the honor of being named the
Colorado Women’s Golf Association junior golfer of the year.
Those are two events that have capped what she calls
an amazing summer, making it hard to determine which is
best.
“It’s tough,” she said. “It’s a real honor to be the
player of the year, but I’d have to say the scholarship,
because that’s where I’m going to be the next four years of
my life. It’s been a dream of mine since I was little to
play Division I golf, so this is really a dream come true.”
The CWGA awards are Nov. 23 (the fact she has to give
a speech is a bit nerve-wracking), and she’ll sign her
letter of intent to become a Lobo Nov. 12.
That, too, was a tough choice. She
received full-ride offers from Kansas State, Denver and
Colorado State, narrowing the field down to the two Mountain
West Conference schools. In the end, the trip to Albuquerque
sealed the deal.
“I got to hang out with the girls, hang out with the
coach and they made me feel right at home,” Buchner said.
“It felt like they’d be my new family for the next four
years.”
Martin likes the choice, noting New Mexico’s standing
nationally (the Lobos are a top-20 program annually), have a
strong tradition and wonderful facilities.
Both events will cap what has been a wonderful year
for Buchner. She was second at state for the second straight
season last year, then spent the summer all over the map.
She played in the Callaway Junior Worlds in California, the
U.S. Junior Championships in Connecticut, took part in the
America’s Cup tournament in Calgary, then closed out with a
second-place finish at the Big Eye Junior Classic in North
Carolina.
It was there she earned her English Mastiff puppy,
Champ. The bet was she’d get the pup if she shot par or
better or made the cut. She not only did both but carded her
first hole-in-one at the tournament in shooting a 69 the
final round.
Her parents had already paid off with a car the year
before when she broke the course record at Boomerang in
Greeley.
The Buchners would be wise to stop dangling these
prizes, Martin said.
“She’s just going to keep improving,” he said.
Her intent exactly. Now that the recruiting process is
over for her, she said she gets the chance to settle in on
her final year of high school, focus on grades and have a
little fun.
Oh, and play a little golf.
“I’m real excited for this year,” she said. “I have
some big goals, and I hope to finish off my senior year
right. I just want to have a good season and have fun my
last year.”
With permission, Loveland Reporter Herald
