- 2021 Spotlight
Personal Statement
Hello, my name is Eleanor Teglia, but I go by Elle and I am in the class of 2023. I am an avid golfer. I believe that I will be a good candidate to golf in college because I love golf as well as learning, and I have learned how to manage my time through my boarding school experience.
My family introduced my sister and I to the game of golf at a very early age by taking us to watch LPGA and PGA events. Later, they took us out to play as a family. We have great family memories on the golf course. At age 11, I started taking regular golf lessons and golf immediately became my favorite sport. My golf coach sets up short game drills in a practice area at our local course, and I enjoy practicing and improving. I also enjoy playing the game with friends and competing in tournaments where I get to know other girls. Prior to focusing full time on golf, my mom and dad taught me importance of playing a team sport through swimming, soccer and basketball.
As a freshman at Nazareth Academy in LaGrange Park, IL, I played in the number 1 spot on the varsity team. Highlights from that season were our team advancing to Illinois Sectionals and the captain of the team and I advancing to State as individuals. I also shot a 79 at both the Midlothian and the Phillips Park Rosary Invitationals, placing 8th and 5th respectively. I was also the medalist at the Rachael Gibson Willowbrook Invitational at Twin Lakes, where I shot +1 for a 61 (par 60).
This year, I was given the opportunity to attend Culver Girls Academy in Indiana. My parents helped me to make the decision to attend Culver which has in-person learning, which was not available to us in Illinois. I applied after the school year had begun and arrived 10 days after school had started. Even though I missed the early part of the golf season and was catching up on schoolwork, I was able to play on the varsity team. Some highlights of this season were our team winning both our Sectionals (Beechwood GC) and Regionals (Battleground GC), and placing 4th at the Indiana State Tournament (Prairie view GC). I placed 17th (76, 85) at the state tournament, 2nd at Sectionals (80), and 5th at Regionals (81). I enjoyed playing courses that I had never played before and meeting new girls.
In the summers, I have been playing IJGA events. This summer of 2020, I won the tournaments at St. Andrews (76), Bartlett Hills (82, 79), Glencoe GC (86), and was second at Pine Meadows (84, 75). I also won the player of the year points race for my age group (14-15 year old girls).
My goals are to play college golf in a program that values leadership, sportsmanship, development and fun. I am driven by the individual challenges golf presents but also love being a part of a team where the camaraderie and encouragement lift each of us to our personal best. After college I plan to have a career in business or real estate, where I know golf will continue to be an important part of my life.
Going away to school this year has taught me how to manage my time. At Culver, we have only a set time for sports each day and then have our leadership, citizenship, academic and spirituality responsibilities. I have worked to get the most of out my practice each day. My key strengths are my even keel nature, my drive to be successful, leadership skills and willingness to work hard.
