Patience has proved to be a virtue for former Butler golf standout Jon Pratkanis.

The 2003 Butler graduate spent a year playing the West Penn circuit and other area tournaments before enrolling at Duquesne University this fall.

"I was only 17 when I graduated," Pratkanis said. "I was always playing against kids in my class who were a year older.

"I wanted to take a year and catch up before I entered college."

That year off has paid off.

Majoring in business at Duquesne, Pratkanis leads the Dukes with a 74.5-stroke average per 18 holes as a freshman. He is tied for 10th overall in the Atlantic 10.

Billy Stewart of St. Joseph leads the conference with a 72.5 average.

"I'm playing OK, but I know I can play better," Pratkanis said. "I've had chances to win tournaments and haven't gotten it done."

Pratkanis finished second in the 80-golfer St. Bonaventure Invitational recently, carding a 73-71-144. That performance earned him Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week honors Oct. 11.

He finished third at the Robert Morris Colonial Classic earlier in the year, carding a 72-76-148.

Pratkanis has come close to winning a few other events, but he said he "hasn't put a round together good enough to win."

But he will. At least, second-year Duquesne coach Tom Farrell says he will.

"Jon has the ability to become an All-American," Farrell said. "He's one of the top three golfers in the Atlantic 10 right now. It comes down to winning tournaments, and he's knocking on the door."

Pratkanis can drive a ball 300 yards. He was a three-year letterman at Butler and averaged in the high 30s per nine holes in each of those seasons.

"He's a great putter and he hits a lot of greens, so he gets a lot of birdies," Farrell said. "When he has a scoring club in his hands, he scores."

Pratkanis said he needs to become more consistent on the course, particularly with his approach shots.

"I haven't been giving myself a chance to sink my first putt," he said. "I've been getting the ball up there (on the green), but not close enough."

Duquesne has never qualified for the NCAA Tournament in golf. The only way to do so is to win the Atlantic 10 Tournament in the spring.

The Dukes' fall season ends this weekend with a match at Temple.

"I think we're going to win the Atlantic 10," Farrell said. "I'm very confident of that. I'm a good golfer who knows good golfers when he sees them - and we have good golfers."

Pratkanis plans to use the next three golf seasons to determine whether to pursue a career on the pro tour or use his business degree to enter the work force.

"If I'm striking the ball better, shooting low numbers consistently, … I'll know where I stand," Pratkanis said. "I don't see myself being a club professional. I'll either go for it all or just play tournaments on the side."

Pratkanis certainly has one man in his corner.

"Can he become a pro down the road? Absolutely," Farrell said. "Jon has all of the qualities. He just has to learn how to win."