RG Tour Profile Players

Shane Lafferty _{Wentzville, MO}

My history is probably like many of yours, a career change, a great family and a passion for the game of golf. After spending a few years in the financial world, I decided to make a career change. I went into an area that I felt I would be able to help people, nursing. As I graduated with a Nursing degree from St. Louis University, I began my career in the trauma room and have now become the Clinical Manager for Amedisys Healthcare Services. I am married to a great lady and have two children, Bailey and Lucas, .Lucas is two years old and currently has an endless desire to hit golf balls in the basement. He must have the interest for both of my kids because Bailey has zero. She must take after her mother.

I think the exposure to the various trauma situations I have witnessed over the years has helped calm my nerves on the golf course. Do I get nervous, sure, but the adrenaline takes over and I feel like I am in control, very similar to the trauma situations I have been apart of.

Golf has become a real passion of mine, I am self taught and continue to focus on getting my game to the best it can be. The best round I have had was a 65, best shot I have had was a 255 yd par 3 that I miss holing the thing by a single revolution of the golf ball and the best course I have played was with a friend of mine Greg Thuli, shot 1 over from the tips at Persimmon Woods. I guess its shots and rounds like that, that keep me coming back. I started playing at 26 years old (13 years ago) just because sports had always been a big part of my life and I needed something I could compete in at my age. All the others, football, baseball, and track were in the past. I was determined to be good at golf…like I said I am self-taught with a handful of lessons for those dry spells that happen from time to time …many hours spent practicing this crazy game.

Last year I had a blast playing golf. The Donatellis Open was very exciting during qualifying period to look each week at leader board and see where you stand. Then to compete on event day was very awesome. Lots of intensity, excitement, and good golf being played. Met some great people also!

I am definitely looking forward to playing with and seeing these people again next season. The tour is a great place for area recreational golfers to compete as individuals, test their game at a level that many have never experienced before and meet some great people along the way. I think it is great that the RG Tour founders are providing this opportunity for us.

Bo Nieters _{Lake St. Louis}

Hello, avid golf fans! My name is Bo Nieters and I count myself among your numbers. I have been playing golf since age 11 and picked the game up primarily because I was a chubby kid that was always just ‘ok’ in grade school athletics. That summer, 27 years ago, I took lessons from area legend Bob Renken (St. Peters GC, now at Old Kinderhook) and furthered my skills under the watchful eye of the late Frosty Byars (Cave Spring Driving Range.) I competed locally in the Gateway PGA junior program (one win), played for DeSmet Jesuit (state champs 1986), and went on to play at SLU and Lindenwood Universities.

Golf has been and will always be part of my woven life tapestry. I use the game as part of my family life during Nieters Family Fun Night at our local par-3 with my astonishingly supportive wife and 2 little boys. My two older girls now in high school and college loved to drive the carts growing up but never ventured beyond my fumbled attempts to instrct the mechanics. Both, however, did grasp a deeper spirit in the game that taught them compassion, integrity, and composure.

Golf has also been instrumental in my business relations as a dental sales professional and manager. The game has allowed me to forge lasting relationships with fellow colleagues and dental professionals around the world. Certainly we discuss business, practice development, or sales strategies, but mostly we play the game, enjoying the camaraderie, competition, or distraction the game affords.

This past year, I was fortunate enough to have had played in the competitive landscape of the Donatelli’s Open. The format intrigued me and the goal was simple: get competitive again and win the shoot-out. I can’t tell you how much this meant to my game this year. To have a plan, a goal, and the format to execute, I committed to myself that I would win. While I came up just short in the end (5th), the experience ignited something deep-down that had been left to simmer during the many years of child-rearing, education, and professional obligations. I will be back this year and am truly excited for the new changes and expanded field of competition.