Chris Rasmussen | Age 13 | St. Wenceslaus
Chris Rasmussen’s stellar junior golf career began with a plastic club and a bag of Wiffle balls. A then two-year-old Chris would hit Wiffle balls for hours in the family’s backyard, walking from one side of the yard to the other to retrieve and hit the balls. He played his first official round of golf before he turned three.
About a decade later, Chris’ passion for golf has only grown and his skills have improved as well. The rising eighth grader at St. Wenceslaus grade school has played in numerous national junior golf competitions. He has also competed with the best in the state while playing on the Nebraska Junior Golf Tour. A year ago, Chris even hit a hole-in-one.
“His dream,” said his mother Suzanne, “is to one day play on the PGA Tour.”
He certainly got an early start on his dream. When Chris was three, his father, Mike, would play nine holes at Elmwood Park with Chris before heading to work in the morning. Chris would wear his pajamas and rain boots and hit balls with his starter set of clubs — a wood, an iron and a putter. The golf course became a second home to Chris and the Elmwood staff was impressed by his focus and love of the game.
Since the age of six, Chris has been playing in the U.S. Kids World Championship in Pinehurst, North Carolina. Recently, he’s also been playing in tournaments around the state and in Kansas City. So far this summer, Chris has won two of the three Nebraska Junior Golf Tournaments he’s competed in.
Chris also plays soccer for the Elkhorn Soccer Club. During the winter, he plays indoor soccer and basketball. At school, he’s been honored for his helping attitude both in and out of the classroom. Since transferring to St. Wenceslaus in sixth grade, Chris has been a fixture on the honor roll.
For high school, Chris plans to join his older sister, Alexis (15), at Elkhorn South High School and play on the golf team.
Chris is the son of Mike and Suzanne Rasmussen of Elkhorn.
