Saint Peter's Athletics has been fortunate to have so many incredible senior student-athletes who have contributed to the positive momentum not only of their specific program, but the entire athletic department and the University as a whole. To celebrate who they are not only on their respective playing surface, but in the classroom, in the community and more, we are excited to present our 2019-20 Saint Peter's Athletics Senior Spotlight series!
When did you start playing golf and how did you wind up sticking with it for as long as you have?
I started playing golf when I was about three years old. My godparents got me a set of toy clubs and my parents claim I just wanted to play with them more than any of my other things. They never pushed me toward it, I just sort of gravitated toward it. I tell people that I didn't really choose to play golf, but instead golf chose me. I don't have a memory of life without golf because I started so young and I think that's why I've stuck with it for so long. It's just always been a part of me.
Describe your journey that led you to Saint Peter's; how did you find out about the school and the program and what made it stand out/ultimately led you here?
I had initially applied to Saint Peter's when I was in high school. It was on my list but not my top choice. By the end of my college selection process, I had decided to attend a different school and play golf there. However, about a month before I graduated high school, there was a situation with the golf coach at the other school that would result in me not having a spot on that team's roster in the fall. I was devastated. Especially since I had already gone to orientation there and had a schedule made up for the upcoming semester. The next week I was at the NYSPHSAA State Golf Championships playing alongside some of my friends, Ryan Rodriguez and Stanley Garrant. They were committed to Saint Peter's and found out that someone had made a late transfer from off the golf team, which opened up a roster spot. They told me to call their coach, Pete Falloon, and talk to him about trying to get a spot on the team. Soon I was committed to Saint Peter's and on my way. I agreed to come to Saint Peter's before I even knew where the school was. My goal was just to get a chance to play Division I golf, and Saint Peter's gave me a great opportunity to do that.
Who is your favorite athlete (professional) and why?
It's hard for me to pick between Lebron James and Tiger Woods. I'm a fan of Lebron because of the way he prepares. He's been able to keep his body in such good shape for so long. I really admire the dedication he has to himself and the discipline he has. When it comes to Tiger Woods, how could someone not be a fan of his play? His dominance has inspired me since I was young. I've always wanted to be like him. To me, Tiger is a guy that can never be counted out and other players are so aware of that. His ability to perform in the most intense moments is something that can't even be described. No one is as clutch as he is.
If you weren't playing golf, what other sports would you be competing in?
I played almost every sport growing up. In high school, I ran cross country and played basketball. I think if I didn't play golf in college I would've tried to play basketball. I love the game and even continue to play at Saint Peter's a few nights during the week.
As a senior (and captain) on this year's team, how did you lead the group? What was your style?
I've always tried to lead by example. I work as hard as I can and hope that I can inspire others to do the same. I've learned that through hard work, almost nothing is impossible and while that might sound a bit cliche, I've seen the benefits of it first hand. I felt that if my teammates saw the effort that I was putting in, they would want to put in that same effort.
Did you have any pre-tournament rituals worth sharing?
I'm not very exciting when it comes to this. Some guys are very superstitious when it comes to this, but I'm not really like that. I usually just mark my golf balls the night before the round, make sure my clubs are clean, make sure I get a good night's sleep, and then eat a good breakfast in the morning. For me, there's not much more to it than that.
What are the first three songs on your pre-tournament/round playlist (if any)?
I actually prefer not to listen to music pre-round. Once I get out of the car at a tournament, the music goes off. I like to listen to what I'm doing, whether it's hitting balls on the range warming up or putting on the practice green. I find comfort in hearing solid contact between the club and the ball. It builds my confidence for the round and helps me stay in the moment.
Who is the funniest person on the team and why?
I would say Jeff [Peters] is the funniest on the team. He always gets the team to laugh and definitely knows how to lighten the mood.
What are you majoring in and what has been your favorite class?
I'm a Marketing Management major. I switched from Sports Management and made that my minor instead. So far, my favorite class has been Business Strategy with Dr. Gilkey. It was really interesting to me to learn how businesses position themselves to make the most money and how they face certain conflicts or competition. It was nice to do it all in a simulation and see how certain moves would affect a company.
How do you want to be remembered at Saint Peter's in terms of your impact on the program and how it's grown over the course of your tenure?
I'd like to be remembered as someone that worked hard for everything. As I mentioned earlier, I always wanted to lead by example. Every day I wanted to get better at golf, and I was willing to do just about anything to do that. I spent as much time on the golf course, at the range, and in the gym as I could. I would hope that I made an impact on the program that will motivate the current roster and future athletes to never quit on their goals and always work hard to achieve them.
What is your favorite athletics memory during your time at Saint Peter's?
My favorite memory during my time at Saint Peter's is definitely when I was able to pull out my first collegiate win at Villanova's spring tournament in 2018. I had started that tournament two over in the first four holes. After the first round I was three under and leading by one shot. It took a lot of patience and determination but I was able to pull off a win there when I probably shouldn't have. I wasn't necessarily hitting the ball great but I was finding ways to get the ball in the hole. It was a huge step in my career because I learned so much about myself during that tournament. Mentally, I came out of it a totally different person. Learning how to win is a huge thing in golf and it was a great experience for me. I'll never forget it.
How are your post-graduation plans shaping up? Any jobs/grad school/etc. lined up?
Post-grad life is looking like it will be a lot of fun. I currently have plans to move to Florida this upcoming winter to start my professional golf career. While doing that, I'll also be enrolled in the PGA Apprenticeship program. I'm going to try for as long as I can to play golf professionally, but I'm creating a solid "Plan B" in Professional Golf Management.
What will make you most proud as a Saint Peter's University alumnus?
It would make me proud to watch my current teammates go on and play well. There is a strong team coming back next year and it'll be fun to watch them play. I'd love to see Saint Peter's on the winning end of things in the coming seasons. The athletics department has plenty of opportunities for growth and I'd love to see them capitalize.
If you could say one thing to your returning teammates next year as one last message of advice/wisdom, what would it be?
I would tell my returning teammates to keep working hard and demand nothing less than greatness. If they continue to push themselves they will grow much more than they ever thought possible. There is so much potential for the program at Saint Peter's. I know that they are in good hands with Coach Sarlund and they are headed in the right direction.
