Drew Kittleson, a sophomore at Florida State University, is playing in his third U.S. Amateur. Prior to making the semifinals, his best finish in a USGA event was the quarterfinals at the 2006 U.S. Junior Amateur where he lost to fellow FSU teammate Wesley Graham.

Why did you choose Florida State University?
Kittleson: I was looking to get away, get away from Arizona and the west coast in general. I just wanted to experience a little different culture, a little different part of the country and also the Bermuda out there was something different. And I knew that if I wanted to be a professional that I would have to learn how to play on that at some point.

So outside of the golf part of it, what was the biggest change for you being from Arizona going to Florida?
Kittleson: Just it’s a different side of the country, different culture; there’s a lot of things that are different. Clothing, like that, manners, it was a good change though.

Is there one specific thing that you feel like, ‘Wow, it’s so different than what I was expecting?’
Kittleson: I mean, everybody dresses up there; it’s kind of weird, but not weird but just normal there, weird for Arizona.

You just went over to Scotland to play with your team. Which one of the courses was your favorite out of the ones that you went to?
Kittleson: Well, the experience of Muirfield is pretty unbelievable just because it’s so private and exclusive. We got on there and just walked up to this random gate and then you walk through and there’s just this unbelievable golf course and it was pretty breathtaking.

Had you seen many of those courses on TV before?
Kittleson: Pretty much all of them. Yeah, we played probably six or seven British Open venues, I had seen most of them.

What’s the difference between Scotland and the U.S.?
Kittleson: It’s just really laid back. Scotland is laid back, really laid back. It was a blast. Teammates and boosters and coaches, we just had an unbelievable time.

How did you start playing golf?
Kittleson: My dad just played recreationally and I just went to the country club with him when I was younger and started practicing, fell in love with it. Just when he would go to the range. I would go to the range if he went after work or sometimes before work.

What things do you like to do when you’re not playing golf?
Kittleson: Big fisherman. Ping pong. I love ping pong. And just hanging out. I love just hanging out with people that I enjoy.

Is there much fishing going on in Scottsdale?
Kittleson: We have a summerhouse in Minnesota. My dad is from there so we have a summer lake house there. And I’ll get in a good five or six hours of fishing there when I’m up there.

What about fishing in Florida?
Kittleson: Yeah different fishing, but we fish off the banks a little bit at the golf course. One of the golf courses we play at when we’re playing. Bring a pole. It’s fun.

You had to adjust to losing your mom at 13?
Kittleson: I was young. I was like 13 years old and so you just kind of dealt with it and did whatever. Not really putting it on golf or anything; just stayed busy.

How difficult was it to do?
Kittleson: I just tried to keep my mind occupied and I was young; I was 13 years old. I still had a lot of big things to do in life like drive, graduate, things like that without her. So I mean it’s just kind of a something that you kind of accept.

Is there anything specific that you liked about the southern food?
Kittleson: To be honest, I haven’t found that much of a difference. Maybe like grits but I don’t eat them. I eat Mexican style grits from Arizona but not the breakfast white grits.

Is this your biggest golf experience where you are now?
Kittleson: I would say so, yeah. If you’re an amateur it doesn’t get any better than the U.S. Amateur. So that’s about what it is. That’s our major, that’s our biggest major.

School and golf take most of your time?
Kittleson: We’re busy, we’re so busy it’s pretty obnoxious. Workouts, traveling, practice, just try to get some sleep every now and then. I’m more worried about that than anything else.

Is college golf what you thought it would be like?
Kittleson: Yeah. I really love golf so I love going to practice and then going to an event the next day. Some people get burned out, but I can’t get enough of it.

If you didn’t make it in college golf or professional golf, what would you do?
Kittleson: Business real estate, something like that.

Is that what your dad is into?
Kittleson: Yeah, he stays busy and does some business deals, but he retired when my mom got sick.