McKenzie Swenson (Buffalo, Minn.), a three-year letter winner on the Gustavus Adolphus College women’s golf team is currently taking part in an exciting internship as the Pro-Am and Fan Features Coordinator at the 2017 PGA Champions Tour 3M Championship.
The 3M Championship is a professional golf tournament on the PGA Champions Tour, a professional senior golf tour. After volunteering for the past six years at the 3M Championship, the two-time MIAC All-Conference golfer is now busy as an intern preparing for the tournament which takes place July 31- Aug. 6 at TPC Twin Cities Golf Club in Blaine, Minn.
“I had talked to an intern my first year and asked them what their major was and what they did there. He told me he was a Sports Management major and ever since that moment, I have known what I wanted to do. From there, a chair volunteer told me more and more about the internship and I was interested. I then applied in the fall and they made their decision in the spring and I couldn’t be happier,” Swenson spoke on obtaining the internship position.
Tasked with managing the events involving the pro golfers, some of Swenson’s duties include working closely with the event schedule and tournament sponsors, as well as event invitations and communications.
Working in an important role for the Pro-Am, Swenson is in charge of all the sponsors and players participating in the tournament, making sure the sponsors get their respective players registered and set up on the database. She also has the unique opportunity of contacting celebrities, giving thanks for playing and receiving information for player bundles.
Under two weeks away from the tournament, Swenson expressed how she is busy but excited as all of the work comes together.
“Preparing for the tournament has been very busy. Even though I have many tasks of my own to complete, there are also many odd jobs that need to get done whether it be putting together player bundles or packing up apparel for over 1,200 volunteers. I never know for sure what I will be doing that day,” said Swenson.
Swenson will be a senior this fall at Gustavus, pursuing a major in Exercise Physiology with a Coaching minor. After graduation, she hopes to head down the sports management path and attributes the internship as a big step in gaining valuable experience and making great connections that could be beneficial in the future.
“I am looking forward the most to the actual tournament. Every time I get to go out on the course and I see all the grandstands getting set up I get more excited each time. My experience has been one of the best I’ve ever had. Before this internship, I had no idea what it takes to run a successful golf tournament. Now, I am realizing how much work it takes and how early we have to start getting everything together. It is a crazy feeling seeing a lot of my work come to life and meeting many people I have been in contact with for weeks. I am so grateful I was given this amazing opportunity and I am excited for where my journey takes me,” Swenson concluded.