20 Oct 2013 at 17:35 | Published by: Hans | Views: 23357 | News search

Andreas Schneider training beton at home  (Photo by Andreas Schneider 2013)

Interview with Andreas Schneider (AS), Switzerland and MC Eichholz Gerlafingen

This interview was done the 20th of October 2013. Interviewer is Hans Bergström (HB).

HB: First of all congratulations to good Championship debut in general class in Bad Münder, ending up with a 17th place in stroke. Are you happy with the results looking back a month?

AS: Yes, the first year I have as a senior man was satisfying as a whole. I was second in the SMM, and second also in the SM and then the peak was the results in the World Cup.

HB: So, can you tell our readers who is Andreas Schneider?

AS: I'm Andrew Schneider and am live Lengnau at Biel in Switzerland. I am working as an electrician at the ISP in Lengnau.

I started my minigolf career in Grenchen in 2007 and then I changed club to MC Eichholz Gerlafingen in 2009.

HB: You and the Swiss men were for a long time on bronze position but Austria overtook this on the last lap. Can you tell us about the feelings in the Swiss team after losing the bronze with two strokes?

AS: Certainly we were disappointed because we had it our hands but lost it. Our team had this year included 2 players that played juniors last year and in my opinion we could not perform on top at the crucial moments. Partly I think this was due to the lack of experience.

For sure everyone handled their disappointing feelings different, some were able to return fully to the finals the next day and others had a tougher time and needed to use a little more effort. I'm quite sure everyone has learned from this.

Unfortunately, the medal miss happened when the critical voices back in Switzerland had already predicted it to happen. I really hope that we get back in taking a team medal in the men’s team already in the 2014 European Championship.

HB: On Friday at the stroke play finals you played well and was the only Swiss man in the stroke play final. Are you happy with this results looking back?

AS: I was really surprised that I could qualify for the super-finals already in his my first year in the senior class. Maybe that’s why I could never quite get the full concentration in the final itself.

HB: In the match play finals on Saturday you meet Marco Templin of Germany and lost. Can you tell us about this match?

AS: I figured if I played my game as I can do it I had a good chance. But I also knew that all spectators would be on Marcos side. At least I took the lead, but after that I began making too many mistakes.

But I was able to fight back to a 3-3 standing but on the eternit he got away with the lead. Despite my defeat, I could absorb a lot of learning’s for the future.

HB: What is your opinion about the arrangements of the World Championships in Bad Münder?

AS: I thought it was a great World Cup compared to my experience from the youth in the previous year.

All were truly much more professional and the atmosphere around the course with the big spectators standings were on another level.

I would look forward to play again in a European or World Championship in Bad Münder.

HB: In your eyes who is the best male and female minigolf player in the world at the moment?

AS: In my eyes the best player at the moment is Filiph Svensson. He has a super straight punch and he has a short concentration phase similarly to what I do.

In the women's category I think Stefani Blendermann as a good choice.

HB: How will the winter season this year look like and what are your thoughts about the 2014 season??

AS: In the winter, I will practice at home. I do mainly tempo shoots and also I will occasionally playing in the indoor hall in Olten.

For the 2014 season I have three main goals. First and primary goal is to become finally Swiss team champions with MC Eichholz. Secondly I would like to be top 3 in the Swiss single Championships. And third I would like to qualify for the European Championship, and if possible to play at least into the top 32.

HB: Will we see you in the next years European Championship?

AS: I hope to be part of the Swiss team for the next few years, so yes hopefully.

HB: Thank you for taking this interview and good luck in the future!

AS: Thank you for this interview and good luck in the future!

SHARE Share Tweet