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Week before US Open, Luiten keen to win in Austria

By WTOP Staff

ERIC WILLEMSEN
Associated Press

ATZENBRUGG, Austria (AP) — A week before his debut at the U.S. Open, Dutch golfer Joost Luiten has another first to manage — defending a European Tour title at the Lyoness Open.

Luiten won the event last year when he held on to his lead from the second day to win by two strokes from Thomas Bjorn of Denmark at Diamond Country Club.

“It’s pretty special to come back here and defend my title,” Luiten said on Tuesday. “You don’t do that every week and I don’t really know what to expect. But it means no extra pressure. It’s a nice and positive feeling.”

Luiten has an excellent record on the course, 50 kilometers west of Vienna. He placed third at his first visit here in 2011.

“I know I can play good golf on this course so I can start with confidence,” he said. “Winning is the goal. A top three would be good but I am really here to win it again.”

It was Luiten’s second victory on the European Tour after winning the Iskandar Johor Open in Malaysia two years earlier, and was followed in September by his third at the KLM Open in his home country.

Both victories last year made him “a better player,” Luiten said. “I’ve learned a lot and I’m more experienced now.”

The Dutchman carried the momentum into 2014, carding three top-10 finishes and placing 12th in the European Tour’s flagship BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth last month.

“My season so far is not bad,” Luiten said. “I had some really good weeks and some weeks that could have been better.”

Luiten, who is ranked 14th in the Race to Dubai, will travel to Pinehurst, North Carolina, for his first appearance at the U.S. Open next week.

In April, Luiten finished 26th at his first Masters in Augusta, Georgia, and in September, he could earn another highlight if he can qualify for his first Ryder Cup.

“The U.S. Open will be a good experience,” he said. “Really, all major weeks are special. The course setups are different, they are more difficult. You learn a lot from it.”

In Atzenbrugg, Luiten will face fierce competition in his bid to become the first player to win the event two years in a row.

The field includes 23-time European Tour event winner Jose Maria Olazabal, 2008 champion Jeev Milkha Singh of India, Danish pair Soren Kjeldsen and Soren Hansen, as well as Spanish great Miguel Angel Jimenez, who resides in Vienna since marrying Austrian Susanna Styblo in May.

And there is Bernd Wiesberger, who won his home event in 2012. The season so far hasn’t been satisfying for the Austrian, prompting him to skip last week’s Nordea Masters to focus on the Lyoness Open.

“I left Sweden out of my schedule as this home tournament is very important to me,” Wiesberger said. “I am very happy with the training rounds I’ve done here. It’s a great setup and the course is very demanding, as it should be a week before the U.S. Open.”

Organizers have swapped the front and back nine to improve the spectators’ view of play on the last hole.

Luiten said the change won’t matter to him because “in the end, it’s still the same course as last year.”

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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