2015 USGA Green Section Interns

Information on the 2016 Green Section Internship Program will be available on the USGA website in September 2015. Questions about the program should be directed to Mary McConnell, senior administrative assistant, Green Section, (908) 234-2300 or mmcconnell@usga.org.

The annual USGA Green Section Internship Program provides selected students the opportunity to travel with Green Section staff members during Course Consulting Service (CCS) visits. USGA agronomists conduct on-site golf course visits to bring a wealth of research results and practical information on construction and maintenance directly to golf course owners, managers, golf professionals and golf course superintendents. The goal of the internship program is to provide students with a broad view of the golf industry and the opportunity to learn about golf course maintenance through the perspective of the USGA agronomists.

Northeast Region

Sandeep Singh Rana has been selected as an intern for the Northeast Region. Currently, Sandeep is pursuing a Ph.D. in turfgrass weed science under the direction of Dr. Shawn Askew in the Department of Plant Pathology, Physiology and Weed Science at Virginia Tech. His Ph.D. research involves investigating selective control options for annual bluegrass and roughstalk bluegrass in turf and the influence of Poa annua and other factors on golf putt trajectory.

Sandeep's family has been involved in agriculture for several generations both as researchers and administrators. He received a bachelor's degree in agriculture from Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University in India and his master's degree in weed science at the University of Arkansas. During the course of his master's program, Sandeep was introduced to the field of turfgrass science. The aesthetic beauty of turfgrass and the rise of both the turfgrass and golf industries in Asia motivated him to pursue a Ph.D. in turfgrass weed science.

Sandeep plans to graduate in May 2016 with the goal of becoming a prominent researcher in turfgrass science either at an academic institution or agro-chemical company in the United States or India.

Christopher Sitko is a senior pursuing an agricultural sciences degree concentrating in crop production and management, with business and horticulture minors, at Cornell University. Dr. Frank Rossi serves as his advisor.

Christopher's passion for working outside began at an early age growing up on his family's Christmas tree farm in Pennsylvania. He has had two previous internships, one at Saucon Valley Country Club in Bethlehem, Pa. and another at Lancaster Country Club in Lancaster, Pa. In addition to his academic efforts, Chris is captain of the Cornell University Sprint Football Team and has led the team in tackles for the past three seasons.

After graduation, Christopher plans to further his academic career by attending Cornell's graduate program beginning in fall 2015.

Southeast Region

Nickles Mirmow is a graduate student working toward a master's degree in plant and environmental sciences at Clemson University under the direction of Dr. Haibo Liu.

Nickles, a native of Lexington, S.C., has been an avid golfer from an early age. He became interested in turfgrass management while working at Northwoods Country Club and Fort Jackson Golf Club in Columbia, S.C.

Upon graduation in August 2016, Nickles plans to pursue a career in some aspect of the golf course industry.

Wendell Hutchens will travel with the agronomists in the Southeast Region. He currently is a senior majoring in turfgrass science at North Carolina State University where his advisor is Dr. Charles Peacock.

Wendell's favorite hobbies growing up included landscaping and playing golf when he learned of the turfgrass science major at N.C. State, he knew a career in turfgrass management was his calling.

Wendell has worked at the NCSU Short Game Facility, interned at the Highlands Course at Primland and has an upcoming internship with Helena Chemical Co. He plans on graduating in December 2015 and going on to pursue a master's degree in plant pathology.

Jordan Craft will travel in the Southeast Region this summer. Jordan currently is a graduate student seeking his master's degree at Mississippi State University under the advisement of Dr. Christian Baldwin.

Jordan grew up in Hurley, Miss., where he realized at an early age that he loved the outdoors and sports. As he got older, he began to look for a career that combined the two things he most loved. Jordan's other internship experiences include: Shell Landing Golf Club in Gautier, Miss.; Spring Creek Ranch in Collierville, Tenn.; and the sports field at Mississippi State University.

Jordan plans to finish his master's degree in May 2016 and continue his education by pursuing a doctorate degree in turfgrass management.

Central Region

Renata Mundim Ribeiro is a biologist from Brazil working toward her master's degree in horticulture and crop science at The Ohio State University. Dr. Karl Danneberger serves as her academic advisor. Renata's research focuses on the development of new educational tools to improve online turfgrass science.

When Renata first came to the United States, she had the opportunity to play golf and fell in love with the sport. It was then she decided people in Brazil should have access to golf lessons and developed a project where students from OSU would record video golf lessons. Renata has since produced many videos that focus on golf equipment, golf lessons and turfgrass management. She also has edited books on turfgrass science and is co-manager of a Brazilian web page for turfgrass management and ornamental plant cultivation.

Upon completion of her master's degree, Renata's goal is to work for the turf industry developing educational and marketing materials.

West Region

As a senior at Oregon State University, Joel Balsiger is studying horticulture with an emphasis in turfgrass management under the advisement of Dr. Alec Kowalewski.

Joel became interested in turfgrass management as a career while attending Mount San Antonio College in Walnut, Calif., where he was responsible for maintaining the campus turf plots. Along with his travel with the USGA Green Section this summer, Joel also will intern at Waverley Country Club in Portland, Ore., and volunteer for the U.S. Open at Chambers Bay.

Joel plans to finish his undergraduate studies in December 2015 and hopes to one day become an agronomist with the USGA.

Sean Lanphere has been selected to travel with agronomists in the West Region during the 2015 summer. Sean currently is a junior at Washington State University where he is majoring in turfgrass management. Dr. William Johnston serves as his advisor.

Sean was born in Seattle but has lived most of his life in the Spokane, Wash. His love for the game of golf came during the summer following high school graduation, where he played all but a few golf courses in the Spokane area. However, it wasn't until later in life while working for the City of Liberty Lake Golf and Parks, that he decided turfgrass management was the career he wanted to pursue.

Sean plans to graduate in spring 2016 with a bachelor's degree in turfgrass management from Washington State University, as well as a biology degree from Eastern Washington University.

His long-term goal is to one day become a golf course superintendent.

Alan Moss is a graduate student at Cal Poly Pomona pursuing a master's degree in agriculture and irrigation science. Alan also received his bachelor's degree in plant science from Cal Poly Pomona in 2013. He is conducting his current research under the advisement of Dr. Robert Green, Dr. Ramesh Kumar and Kelly Parkins.

Alan has been interested in plants and sports since early childhood. During high school he played on the golf team, which helped solidify his passion for the game of golf. Since beginning his graduate studies, Alan has focused on turfgrass irrigation and water conservation through his research on deficit irrigation on bermudagrass.

Alan plans to complete his master's degree in December 2016 and hopes that some of his research on irrigation efficiency will benefit the golf industry.

Luellen Swayzer is currently a senior at Cal Poly Pomona studying plant science under the advisement of Kelly Parkins.

Luellen's interest in horticulture started as a young girl working with her family's commercial landscaping business. Her love for the outdoors and horticulture led her to a putting green construction class at Cal Poly Pomona. Luellen also has interned at Virginia Country Club in Long Beach, Calif. where she collected data on bentgrass greens using field-measurement instruments.

After graduation in December 2015, Luellen is looking forward to a career in golf and turfgrass management.

West Region