Name: Matt Busa
Sport: Men’s golf
Hometown: Cleveland
High School: St. Ignatius
School/Year: COL ’07
Major: Psychology and economics
High school highlights: 2001, 2000: first team all-state.
Georgetown highlights: 2005: second place, all-Big East team at Big East championships.
When did you first start playing golf? I started playing probably when I was five. I just had a putter, and I’d go around with my parents or grandparents and play. I think it was pretty much their influence, and I liked the game. The biggest thing they taught me was to have fun when I am playing, and there is no sense over getting frustrated over not playing well, because it is just a game. I was probably six or seven when I got my first set of clubs.
What do you do to get psyched for a match? It excites me when good teams are there, and I know that I am going to play against the best the NCAA has to offer. As a team we usually listen to Kenny Loggins’ “Playing with the Boys” from the Top Gun soundtrack. When I was a freshman, Nick Cooke (COL ’04) and Jamy Farrah (COL ’04) started the tradition.
Any superstitions? I like to mark my ball with a quarter with a good year on it. Any year that something memorable or good happens, usually an old quarter. If I have a bunch in my pocket, I pick the one with the good year on it.
Who’s your biggest rival? As a team, I would say Maryland and Princeton are our biggest rivals. Actually, I get excited about playing against my old high school teammates. They all play Division I golf, too, so when I see them at a tournament it is kind of exciting. I also get excited about kids that I have seen on TV play on the U.S. Amateur.
What was the best moment in your career so far? As a team, I would say going to the NCAA, even though I didn’t get to play. Just being there was pretty unbelievable. Individually, winning second in the Big East last year . in the snow.
What has been your favorite golf course? Pine Valley outside Philadelphia is by far my favorite course. It’s rated the No. 1 course in the world. I also like Scioto Country Club in Columbus [Ohio]. I enjoy playing old-style courses better. They are more strategic, and they have more undulated greens. They aren’t quite as wide-open as the newer courses.
Who is your favorite golfer? I would say David Toms. I think it’s because he is a little, humble guy with loads of talent. He just seems like a David against Goliath when he is playing against Tiger Woods and Vijay Singh.
If you could be great at any other sport besides golf, what would it be? Probably basketball, just ’cause all the players in the NBA are ripped and can jump really high and are great athletes. LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers is probably my favorite.
What is the hardest aspect about golf? I would say trying to stay focused for a long period of time. When we play in tournaments we play 36 holes in one day, which is 10 to 12 hours on the course, so it is hard to stay focused for that long.
Favorite Georgetown restaurant? Probably orton’s and their double filet. I like the Tombs. I get the bacon cheeseburger there.
What are you currently listening to? I like the Counting Crows and Bruce Springsteen.
Freshman dorm? Harbin. I would the say the funniest story is when me, my roommate [John Casterigano, SFS ’07] and some of our friends took a video camera and went around interviewing all the girls from Harbin. We just got some funny reactions and bashful looks from people because we went around at 2 or 3 a.m. It was just funny watching it after we did it. I think one of my friends still has the tape.
Who’s your biggest inspiration? I would say my parents and grandparents, because they have been successful in other aspects of life and I hope I can follow in their footsteps.
The thing you miss the most about home? Being able to drive my car. I have a Jeep Cherokee. Just going out with my friends from home and playing golf with my friends from home.
Favorite movie? Either Office Space or Major League. Office Space is just hilarious and makes me laugh every time I watch it. Major League, also because it is funny, but also because it is about Cleveland, where I am from.
Favorite TV show? I like “Entourage.”
What is the hardest class you have taken at Georgetown? Intro Bio. It was hard because it was a lot of work and a lot of time commitment, which was extremely tough with golf practice everyday. I was a freshman bio major, and I decided to drop that – not so much because it was hard, but I wasn’t interested in the subject matter.
What is your biggest pet peeve? I don’t like people talking very loud on their phone. It’s just something that annoys me.
Favorite place outside of Georgetown? I like Hilton Head, S.C. Play golf, that is pretty much all there is to do.
What one word would people use to describe you? Determined, because I feel like I am driven toward my goals. Whenever I want to get something done, I make sure I do it.
What do you hope to do when you graduate? I really have no idea.
How long do you see yourself playing golf for? The rest of my life. It’s a lot of fun for me, and I can never see myself not liking or wanting to play.
Booey’s or Wisey’s? Wisey’s. The Burger Madness.
