Personal Statement
My name is Joe Opitz, I am from Missoula, Montana and am currently a Junior at Sentinel High School. I played many sports early, but when I started golf at age 12, I begged my parents to let me play every day and in every tournament I could. That continues today. Golf is my passion. I have had a dramatic handicap progression each year (36+, 24, 11, 5, 3, and now 0) despite still playing other sports and taking winters off in Montana. I feel this highlights my potential in college when I can concentrate on golf year around. The advantage of starting later than most but still catching up is that I am nowhere near burned out, nor am I at a high risk for developing an overuse injury due to being too focused too young. My goal is to be a legitimate +3 by the end of next year (Senior year). In college, I want to compete for championships, both individually and as a team.
My swing has been guided by Travis Olson, one of the best teachers in the nation (per Golf Digest). Travis is Director of Golf at Rock Creek Cattle Company, a top 100 course in the world. I feel the strength of my golf game is my coachability, length, short game, and ability to recover. I am known for my ability to forget bad shorts and refocus. My mottos are "Golf is a game of recovery" and "You can't make a comeback unless you’re behind." Finally, I am outgoing, have golf friends all over the state and region, keep a positive attitude, and provide encouragement and support for my teammates.
