Older brother Paul committed to Michigan State University for football, but Valparaiso junior Pat Andrie might not be living in his sibling's shadows this spring.
The younger Andrie is the No. 5 golfer for the Times No. 1 Vikings, and he's played a critical role in many of their wins.
He finished fifth overall with a 73 at the Rensselaer Invitational on May 5, was seventh with an 80 — even though he was on the B team — at the Aberdeen Classic on April 28, second on the team (76) at the Briar Cup on April 21 and 10th overall (78) at the Marquette Invitational on April 14.
"I'd love to win state this year," Pat Andrie said. "I could hold that over (Paul's) head."
Pat Andrie will get a chance to help that dream come to fruition Friday, beginning at the Valparaiso Sectional.
Unlike his brother, the starting quarterback for the Vikings, Pat Andrie doesn't command a physical presence at 5-foot-10 and 135 pounds.
"I like to pride myself on my short game," Andrie said. "I'm able to get up and down."
Heading into this season, Andrie had been on the down side of his prep career.
"I really struggled last year," he said. "and I only broke 90 once."
Andrie said his problems were on the mental side of his game, and he found a solution for his issues on the tennis court. He played prep tennis last fall and gained one valuable lesson.
"I was a head case on the golf course before, and then tennis straightened me out," he said. "I pulled it all together mentally. When I played doubles, I couldn't get (mad) at my partner, because we had to work together. Something just clicked. Now when I have a bad hole, I don't let it affect me."
Early this golf season, he dealt with the pressure of playoff rounds the day before each match. The top four spots on the squad were secured by veterans, and he had to battle several times for the No. 5 spot.
"Nothing was promised to me," he said. "I had to put or go home."
In the last three weeks, the playoffs have stopped and Andrie has settled into his spot.
"He's provided great competition for his teammates," Valpo coach Wayne Lichtenberger said of Andrie. "I cannot say enough good things about him."
Andrie truly enjoys being a part of the area's top team and playing rounds with arguably some of the top players in the state: juniors Kyle Meihofer and Bobby Jacobs plus senior Logan Bertalan.
"It's something I wouldn't have imagined," Andrie said. "I love every moment of it, but I don't know how long it will last. ... All of this just makes me work harder."
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