Josh Persons is less than forthcoming about why he left Kansas State.
"I had some things going on," he said.
And the golf coach from Persons' new school, the University of Minnesota, is equally as vague in his explanation for not recruiting him out of high school.
"We heard he wanted to go south," Gophers coach Brad James said.
Manhattan, Kan., isn't exactly Miami. Persons' college golf career didn't truly turn south until the end of his sophomore year. The former Fargo North standout was left off the Wildcats' postseason roster one season after carding five top-20 finishes in 14 events.
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"I came home a lot last year and had some things going on," the 21-year-old Persons said. "It made things hard."
Oxbow (N.D.) Country Club pro John Dahl, who has been working with Persons for eight years, expounded: "He wasn't really too happy in Kansas. That wasn't a good fit for him. But the coach at Minnesota - the practices have been much more intense and much more organized and he enjoys that. His structure has been a lot different."
Structure is the one area in which James believes Persons needs to improve - things like time management and off-course organization.
His junior-year statistics reveal that Persons may have found a home at Minnesota.
Persons has participated in nine of the Gophers' 10 tournaments and has contributed to the team total in each.
He has four top-20 finishes, including placing second and third, respectively, in the first two fall events.
He is ranked 149th nationally and Minnesota is No. 24, fresh off taking first at the Bruce Fossum-Taylor Made Invitational in East Lansing, Mich.
It's a victory that has the Gophers streaking toward the Big Ten Championships this weekend at University Ridge Golf Course in Verona, Wis. The win has virtually assured them a berth in the NCAA Division I Central Regional May 19-21 in South Bend, Ind.
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"I think I was just playing really well at the end of the summer and it carried over to college," said Persons, who has qualified for two consecutive U.S. Amateurs. "I guess I just kind of cooled off and I have to get back to that point. I felt close lately."
Coincidentally, Persons nearly conceded last summer to enrolling at North Dakota State, which is currently ineligible for postseason competition because it's transitioning to Division I.
After deciding to leave Kansas State, he looked into joining fellow Fargoan David Schultz at Texas Christian University. But the team didn't have any scholarships available and tuition is $21,280 per year.
So last August, an uncle called Minnesota. James quickly ended the conversation since Persons hadn't yet been released from his half scholarship at Kansas State.
After some "work," (Persons declined to elaborate), he secured his release. James then went to Duluth to watch Persons play in the Minnesota Amateur and ultimately offered an invitation to join the team.
More than that, the fourth-year coach said he fully expected Persons to immediately contribute to the Gophers, who have only one senior. By second semester, Persons earned a full scholarship.
"I watched Josh when he was a high school player," said James, a native Australian, who led Minnesota to a national championship in 2002. "What I had heard was he didn't want to come anywhere north. So we basically stopped the recruiting."
Persons still isn't sure where that rumor started, but it doesn't matter anymore.
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"I love it here," he said of Minnesota. "I couldn't ask for anything better."
Readers can reach Forum reporter Terry Vandrovec at (701) 241-5548
