- May 2019
Personal Statement
Dear Coaches,
I have been shared the health and ability that allow me to golf, and I want to do my best with these gifts through a strong work ethic, focus, sacrifice and discipline. I have had to overcome many obstacles in my youth, and my biggest win, beating brain cancer. The struggles I have faced have given me motivation to push myself to my limits. My dad and I have always golfed together, even when I was focused on baseball, but it was not until the year after I was sick and unable to play baseball at the level I once had, that I started to direct my competitive attention toward golf. I became very motivated to be the best golfer I could be and started immersing myself in the sport. I am grateful for my parents and coaches who support me and help encourage me to keep looking forward.
When I was 10 years old, I began playing competitive golf through U.S. Kids local tournaments in Charlotte and Interclub matches at my local course, Raintree Country Club. As I started to grow my game, I became interested in expanding my playing field by playing in larger tournaments like state and regional tournaments for U.S. Kids and on the Tarheel Tour. Though I struggled at first to get used to the larger fields and better competition, I have grown through these experiences and learned how to adjust to better handle myself and my game, helping me gain ground on superior competitors. I enjoy getting to know golfers from around the world at tournaments and each round is an opportunity to improve. I have learned there is no perfection in golf, but that does not keep me from seeking it.
In my junior year, I will look to stay focused in class and at home to get my school work completed so I can maximize my time for practice at the course and with my team. I will work hard to maintain a good GPA so I can continue to play on the golf team and have strong opportunities academically in college. In my college years, I hope to do the best I can for my golf team and academically. I hope to have a good relationship with my teammates and coaches in order to get good feedback and help from them. I have grown a lot through my years of school and golf, and I want to continue to extend this learning into college, balancing both academics and athletics.
Drew Van Dyke
