Jamy Bechler

Providing Insights on Leadership and Success. Coach Bechler is a John Maxwell Leadership Team Member.

2003 British Open Champion Ben Curtis

Ben Curtis won the 2003 Open Championship at Royal St. George’s as a rookie in only his 16th start on the PGA Tour. He became the first golfer in 90 years to win a major championship in his first try. He would go on to win a total of four PGA events. Curtis also was the runnerup at the 2012 PLAYERS Championship and a member of the 2008 Ryder Cup Championship Team. Prior to his professional career, he was formerly the world’s number one ranked amateur after winning three Ohio Amateur titles, earning NCAA All-American honors three times at Kent State University, and reaching the semifinals of the 1999 of the prestigious U.S. Amateur at Pebble Beach. He retired from professional golf in 2017.  He now leads the Ben Curtis Golf Academy, as well as the Ben Curtis Family Foundation which seeks to alleviate childhood hunger in Northeast Ohio.

In today’s episode, we discuss:
  • Winning The Open Championship as a rookie
  • Getting married and playing a PGA event on the same day
  • The mental approach to golf
  • Starting a foundation to help alleviate child hunger
  • … and so much more!!!

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Episode 183: Pro Golfer Erik Barnes

Today’s guest is Erik Barnes, a professional golfer on the Korn Ferry Tour. At the time of this interview in April 2022, he was ranked 13th and had four top-10 finishes in his last eight events. He gained fame during the pandemic when he took a full-time job working at a Publix grocery store near his home in Bradenton, Florida. He is originally from Marion, Indiana, and attended college at Austin Peay State University.

Click here to see Erik’s official PGA webpage.

From Publix to the PGA Tour? (Forbes Article)

In today’s episode, we discuss:

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Episode 176: Lauren Johnson, former New York Yankees Mental Coach

Lauren Johnson is an athlete-turned-mental conditioning coach, who is highly motivating, and relatable with a passion for developing the minds of the elite. Lauren trains professional athletes, military personnel and business professionals through national speaking engagements, educational training workshops and consulting.

Prior to becoming an entrepreneur, Lauren served as the Mental Conditioning Coordinator for the New York Yankees, where she was responsible for aiding in the development of athletes and staff through education, application, and support.

From the playing field to the boardroom, Lauren helps elite performers develop mental toughness so they can be their best regardless of circumstance. Her practical, straight-forward advice and performance strategies provide tangible results and skills that help individuals push through the inevitable challenges life throws at us.

In today’s episode, we discuss:
  • Why soccer players flop
  • How to break out of a slump
  • “Coaching” her professional golfing husband
  • What we all can do better mentally to be successful
  • Helping the New York Yankees with mental performance
  • … and much more!!!

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A Long Time Coming

Adam Long celebrates winning the final round of the Desert Classic at the Stadium Course at PGA West in La Quinta on Sunday, January 20, 2019. (Photo by Jennifer Cappuccio Maher, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Did you hear about the dramatic duel that Hall of Fame golfer Phil Mickelson recently took part in? No, I am not talking about his one-on-one battle with Tiger Woods out in Las Vegas. I am talking about his final round battle at the 2019 Desert Classic. It looked as if “Lefty” would win his 44th career PGA Tour event because he just had to withstand a challenge from the 417th ranked player in the world. Yes, you heard that right, Phil Mickelson, who earns about $50 million per year was dueling it out with Adam Long.

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Episode 105: 2x Super Bowl Champion Gary Reasons


Gary Reasons spent nine years as a linebacker in the National Football League.  He was a fourth round draft pick in 1984 by the New York Giants and was instrumental in helping the team win two Championships, Super Bowl XXI & XXV.  As a team leader, he was elected by his teammates to the NFLPA Board of Directors and was further elected by the Board and served 6 years as Vice President on the NFLPA Executive Committee. He is also an inductee into the College Football Hall of Fame.

Following his playing days, Gary has enjoyed a 23 year television broadcast career as a college football analyst with ABC Sports, ESPN, and FOX Sports. Concurrent to his broadcast work, Gary has utilized natural leadership, expert communication skills, and technology expertise to lead several prosperous businesses. Gary’s technology background includes solution strategy and development for global technology firms such as Hewlett Packard Enterprise Services and NTT Data. 

Reasons is now a motivational speaker and consultant to businesses. He is the Co-Founder of PRO ATHLETES TEAM, where he serves as President and oversees all aspects of the organization.  As a senior business executive, Gary has more than 20 years of experience within the IT industry and over 30 years of experience within the Sports, Media, and Entertainment industry.  

In today’s episode, we discuss:
  • Being a fellow linebacker with Lawrence Taylor
  • Whether he knew Bill Belichick would be a great head coach
  • The great athletes that have come out of his college
  • … and so much more!!!

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Episode 085: Drew Dinkmeyer, “Welly-Maker” Charity Water Organizer

Drew Dinkmeyer is one of the most respected experts in the fantasy sports industry. Along with Mike Leone, they co-founded DailyRoto, which is one of the most accurate and comprehensive research sites for fantasy sports. In 2013, at the age of 31, Dinkmeyer left his job as a financial investment analyst behind to become one of just a handful of fantasy sports professionals. In December of 2014, he won a million dollars in a football contest on Draftkings. 

In 2017, Drew was named the “Humanitarian of the Year” by the Fantasy Sports Trade Association (FSTA) for his work as the organizer of the Welly-Maker.  The Welly-Maker ultimately raised over $40,000 and provided clean water solutions for more than 1,300 people. In 2018, Drew launched Welly-Maker 2.0 and pledged to match up to $40,000.

“Dinkpiece”, as he is known in the fantasy world, earned an Ivy league degree in Psychological and Brain Studies (which means he is really smart) from Dartmouth University. Drew also played Division I Tennis – where he is 2nd all-time in wins. He worked for Morgan Stanley as a an investment analyst. He has been featured in both Maxim and the Wall Street Journal, as well as being interviewed by NPR. 

In today’s episode, we discuss:

  • His passion for sports
  • Advice for starting to play fantasy sports
  • The need for clean water in third-world countries
  • Why he started the “Welly-Maker”

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Episode 084: PGA Tour Wife Brittany Horschel

Brittany Horschel is the wife of PGA Tour pro and 2014 Fed Ex Cup Playoff Champion Billy Horschel. After Billy won the Byron Nelson tournament in May 2017, she publicly announced that the weekend had marked her one year anniversary of being sober. Since then she has appeared on Good Morning America and started TheSoberModernMom.com blog to help others going through similar situations. 

In today’s episode, we discuss:

  • Life as a PGA Tour wife
  • Picking out clothes for her husband
  • Her battle with alcoholism
  • Advice for people who know someone battling addiction

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Episode 080: PGA Caddie Paul Tesori

Paul Tesori is the caddie for professional golfer Webb Simpson. Paul was on the bag when Webb won the 2012 U.S. Open and 2018 THE PLAYERS Championship. In addition to Webb Simpson, Paul has caddied for some of the best golfers in the world including former #1 player Vijay Singh. In total, he has more than 20 wins as a PGA caddie. 

We caught up with Paul between THE PLAYERS and the Open Championship (to be held at Carnoustie, Scotland). The memories of the record-setting performance at THE PLAYERS was still fresh in his mind (especially since it is played at TPC Sawgrass, which is Paul’s home course). Webb led THE PLAYERS Championship from start to finish. Along the way, he equaled the course record with his 2nd-round 63, and also the 36-hole and 54-hole PLAYERS scoring records. With the win, Webb became just the 9th player to have won THE PLAYERS and a U.S. Open. The victory also made Webb World Golf Hall of Fame eligible in the future. 

Paul is a Florida native and attended the University of Florida. He grew up loving sports and played golf and baseball. He was such a good golfer that he even played 21 events on the PGA Tour himself. Paul and his wife Michelle run the Tesori Family Foundation, which was founded in 2009. The foundation helps supports various charities throughout the country with focuses ranging from childhood homelessness to battered women’s shelters, from children battling disease like cancer to animal rescue charities like the Jacksonville Humane Society. 

In today’s episode, we discuss:

  • Webb’s runaway win at the 2018 Players Championship
  • Why mental toughness is important in golf and life
  • What he says to a golfer during a round
  • Caddie-Golfer relationships, especially after breakups

[Read more…]

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