Joe Annoura '22 Recruiting Profile

I was the second worst golfer in the district back in 8^th grade. I was sure that my golfing career would be done after the completion of my round. After all, what high school coach would accept a player like me? Even though I had only played for a year, a player shooting double the par is not an attractive prospect for any team, good or bad. I started so far behind my teammates and I needed a way to make up ground. While my-age teammates were shooting personal best 74 and 77s, It was a miracle if I broke 100.

On the driving range, my coach would receive pictures from the staff members of me, hitting balls, in the pouring rain. My shoes are practically useless when filled with water and I can barely see in front of me, but it didn’t matter. Every shot I hit brought me a little closer to beating everyone else. Each extra minute I was there, and they were not, I had the advantage. I would swing and rain would slap my face, but I felt where the ball went and lined up another shot.

Through this process, results actually showed. I wasn’t sure if my practicing was paying off but each year, I improved. At each banquet, I earned most dedicated and most improved player of the year. My scores gradually lowered and my position on the team slowly creeped up. If I could go from the absolute worst player on the team, to making the varsity A team, there was nothing I couldn’t do. I had never worked so hard for anything, but the results I saw were staggering. My scoring average dropped double digits each consecutive year and my personal bests were motivating me even more.

I realize now that I brought a similar attitude to other parts of my life. I proved to myself If I set a goal and worked harder than anyone else, I could achieve that. Every year I strive to do better in school and every year my class rank gets better. Unlike golf, in school, I started in the top 6 percent but crept into the top 3. I devote my night time hours to my desk, answering assignments and studying for tests. Even when I have bad days in golf or in school, I pick myself up and work harder the next. A bad test or a blow up tournament only motivates me more to grind on the range, or in the textbooks.

Starting with nothing, my main goal is to see how good I can become with continued hard work and dedication. Being a young player who has golfed half the time of my teammates, I find it amazing how I was able to close the scoring gap between us and even surpass them. If given more years to improve, I only want to see how much better I can be. I know there are major gaps in my chipping and mental game at times but with practice, it will get better.

Golf has been something that has changed how I see and act through life. What I have learned has branched out into all aspect of who I am and made me a better person.