University of North Texas Athletics
Getting To Know: Marija Jucmane
7/24/2020 9:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
DENTON - In an ongoing series, members of the UNT women's golf team will tell fans a bit about themselves, answering some questions about golf and some about off-the-wall topics. This week's installment is with sophomore Marija Jucmane, who has a new twist to the age-old question: Does Coach Akers have bad taste in music?
Q: How old were you when you started playing golf?
A: I started playing golf when I was 7 years old in 2007.
Q: Why were you initially interested in playing golf?
A: I was in interested in golf because my dad played and I liked to spend time with my golf friends.
Q: Why did you keep playing golf? Was it just a matter of realizing you were pretty good or was it something more than that?
A: I started to practice seriously at the age of 13 when I started to get stronger and better. I realized that it was possible for me to become a great player and eventually earn a scholarship in the US.
Q: What is your favorite thing about the game?
A: My favorite thing about golf is that hard work pays off and eventually you are able to see progress and become better and better.
Q: What is your favorite club in your bag?
A: My pitching wedge.
Q: What is your favorite golf memory?
A: My favorite golf memory is playing my first bogey-free round when I was 4-under at the Faldo Series Polish Championships in 2018.
Q: What is the best course you've ever played?
A: Paradise Island Golf Club in The Bahamas.
Q: Who has been your biggest inspiration through the years?
A: My biggest inspirations are many strong female athletes like Lexi Thompson, Serena Williams and Simone Biles.
Q: Why did you choose UNT?
A: I chose UNT because of the development of the team through recent years and before I came here I had heard a lot of great things about Coach Akers, and that was important to me.
Q: What is your favorite hobby when you're not playing golf?
A: Dancing.
Q: If you could have dinner with three people - dead or alive - who would it be?
A: Beyonce, Ryan Gosling and Serena Williams.
Q: You can take three things with you to a deserted island, what do you take?
A: A knife, magnifying glass and a water bottle.
Q: What is the best movie ever made?
A: The Notebook.
Q: What is your favorite TV show?
A: Friends and The Office.
Q: Which character from The Office do you think is most like yourself and why?
A: I would say Pam. I like jokes and pranks, but I'm never smart enough to come up with them myself, so I mostly just participate and try to watch and see if everything runs smoothly.
Q: How long did it take you to watch Tiger King?
A: Two days.
Q: Who is your favorite band or musician?
A: Beyonce.
Q: Who on the team has the best taste in music aside from yourself? Who has the worst?
A: When Coach Akers is picking the music in the van, he definitely has both - the best and the worst.
Q: Are you a dog or cat person? Do you have any pets?
A: Both! I have a Cornish Rex cat named Hossa.
Q: What is your favorite food from your home country?
A: My favorites are some of the traditional Latvian foods like loads of potatoes and specially made pork or chicken chops.
Q: What is one thing you'd tell people about Latvia who aren't familiar with your country?
A: I like to tell people how historically rich Latvia is. The capital, Riga, is almost 820 years old. The nature and the architecture can be just breathtaking.
Q: Did (graduate assistant coach, and fellow Latvian) Krista Puisite play a role in you coming to UNT?
A: Yes, it definitely played a role. It was awesome that I had a person here that I knew before, could speak Latvian with, and I knew she was there for me any time if I needed.
Q: What is your favorite type of other food?
A: Orange chicken is my favorite food since I came to the US.
Q: You just won the Par 3 challenge, which restaurant are you picking for the champions dinner?
A: P.F. Chang's.
Q: You have one day left on Earth, what's your last meal?
A: A McSundae with chocolate.
Q: Favorite type of dessert?
A: Lemon sorbet.
Q: What was the biggest adjustment for you coming to the United States and what has been your favorite thing so far about being here?
A: The hardest thing was not being able to get where I wanted by walking. In Latvia, I am very used to going for walks in the evenings or during the day, but in Texas, you can't get anywhere without a car because of the many freeways. My favorite thing so far has been how friendly and accepting everyone is.
Q: Which of your teammates' home countries would you most like to visit and why?
A: I would love to visit Malaysia (Audrey Tan) and Indonesia (Patricia Sinolungan) because I would love to explore both of the countries' nature and foods.
