Khai Reyes '25 Recruiting Profile

I started playing golf at a very young age. As a child, it was something fun for me to do and it was a good way to spend time with my dad and meet new friends. As I grew older, it became much more than that – it became the foundation that gave me the drive, discipline, confidence, and ability to connect and understand people that I’ll be able to apply in my life as an adult and in any career path I choose.

Golf has always been a fun sport for me, and the more tournaments I played, win or lose, the more it became a huge part of my life. My parents have always instilled the importance of working hard in me and my siblings, and I feel like I understood the value in that of playing golf. Because of golf, I have a great understanding of what it really means to work hard because of the amount of work that needs to be put in for me to get better with each swing. The more time and effort I invested in my game, the better I got, and I wouldn’t have been able to accomplish my goals if I didn’t push myself to put in the necessary work. Golf also requires a lot of focus and self-discipline. I am proud to say that I’ve been able to apply the same focus and self-discipline to every aspect of my life as a student, which has provided me with the tools to succeed in my academic career.

People always say to take things “one day at a time,” and I think that this also applies to how I see golf – we have to take things one swing at a time. While it’s important for me to look and plan ahead when it comes to my game, I know that it’s also valuable for me to maintain focus on the ball that’s in front of me and the swing I have to take to get to the hole. This way of thinking has also given me the ability to find the joy and positive in everything. It’s easy to get down on yourself when you’re having a bad day, but it’s been helpful for me to pick myself up by focusing on the good in everything including remembering the joy I have in having the privilege to play golf. This perspective helps me adjust and adapt to any circumstance that I come across in life.

The relationships that I’ve built through golf and the lessons that I’ve learned from different people I’ve come across are something I’m going to carry with me in my lifetime. I have met a lot of people (coaches, teammates, opponents) that have truly contributed to my confidence and skills. My coaches have shown me my potential and have challenged me to be a better player and person. I have also learned that building and maintaining relationships, in general, is important in the game and when it comes to our everyday life. Because of the intensity of golf, and how tournaments can be a roller coaster ride, I have gained empathy for others and how important it is to support other people even in competition. Some of my biggest competitors are my closest friends and we have built a lifelong friendship through our love for golf and respect for one another.

One of my proudest moments happened on my mom’s birthday in 2019 when I shot a 66 at Heritage Ranch. That day, I learned that the hard work that I’ve put in every day is evident and it changed my self-confidence. I realized that golf hasn’t just given me an outlet to showcase my skills that

I’ve learned, but it has also given me a chance to be the best version of myself on and off the course.