Reis Claybrooke '25 Recruiting Profile

Growing up, I've always tried my hand at multiple sports, even playing multiple sports in a season.  I was a goalkeeper, a catcher, a shooting guard, and I always had a great time with my friends, but golf challenged me and gave me a purpose that I hadn't felt before.  My grandpa bought me my first set of clubs at a garage sale in junior high, and my parents bought a pass to our local public golf course.  It was like I flipped a switch when I started playing - I couldn't get enough. I rode my bike to the course every day, and I played as much as I could. I also loved the comradery I felt at the course. I made new connections with people my own age, but I also made connections with the older members at the course, learning not only about golf but learning how to interact and respect people of all ages. My parents were surprised as I gave up officially playing other sports for school over the last several years, but nothing has given my joy like golf has given me. I still play intramural basketball on a school team, but  golf is my passion.

I have made a strong effort to focus on a variety of things this past year - playing different courses all off season that challenged me, pushing myself against tougher competition in bigger tournaments, working with my high school coach and swing coach and focusing on both my mental & physical game, and enjoying my teammates and friendships I've made throughout the process. In the end, I was able to reduce my high school stroke average this season by 2.25 shots from last year, lead my team in stroke average, and count my score 100% of the time in every match and tournament we played in this season. I haven't missed a varsity golf match in 3 years, and I've been able to keep showing progress each year. I was also named “Golf Player of the Year” for East Central Illinois.

I don't exactly have figured out what the next steps will bring, but I know I want to continue with competitive golf.  I know golf will be a part of my life for a long time to come, but I want to contribute to a team for as long as I can.

Reis Claybrooke

reisclaybrooke.com