Personal Statement
Hello, I’m Peyton Cusick. I am a Junior at Marquette High School in Chesterfield, MO. I started learning the game of golf in 2011 and started playing competitively in tournaments during the summer of 2017. During my freshman year, I played as number 1 on my Varsity team and was the only girl on my team to make it to the 2019 MSHSAA State Championship. I placed 37th out of 90 players in the state competition at Silo Ridge and out of the 7 freshmen that qualified, I placed 1st. With hard work and determination, I again qualified for the 2020 MSHSAA State Championship during my sophomore season. I shaved 20 places off my freshman year finish against some very talented competition at Dalhousie Country Club. My +10 finish placed me at 17th out of 72 girls -- one stroke away from an All-State medal. This 1 stroke miss provided the motivation I needed to succeed during my Junior season. I took 1st place individual medalist in the Yellow Pool Suburban Conference, with a 1 under par, 71. This was the first time I had finished under par during tournament play and it felt so rewarding! In the following weeks, I also finished as the 1st place medalist in the Class 4, District 2 Tournament with a 4 over par, 76. This win advanced me to the 2021 MSHSAA State Championship where I finally earned the All-State Medalist finish I had been working so hard towards the past 2 years.
Over the summers I participate in Gateway Junior PGA, Hurricane Junior Golf Tour, Accelerated Golf Tour, and Missouri Golf Association tournaments. I've just begun participating in AJGA tournaments in hopes to improve my game against a strong field of junior golfers. In 2018 I was the Gateway Jr PGA player of the year in the 12-14 girls 18 hole division and in 2019 I was the Gateway Jr PGA player of the year in the 15-19 girls 18 hole division. In 2020 I earned the Accelerated Golf Tour player of the year in the high school girls division.
One of my favorite aspects of golf is the people I meet and the friendships I have made throughout my many years of playing. I also enjoy how difficult golf can be and how every course is a new challenge. Every time I moved into a higher skill division I would expect that the other girls were so much better then me, but once I started playing with them, I knew I had the skill to play with them and I could keep up and succeed. My determination to keep up with the "older" girls is what drives me to improve and get better. Whenever I have a bad round, I always go to the driving range to make adjustments to whatever wasn’t working then I head out the next day and put forth my best.
When I’m not playing golf, I’m usually hanging out with my friends, staying ahead on my homework, exercising, or volunteering. I love staying active, whether its going on a run, a long bike ride, hiking, or working out. I enjoy new adventures and I'm not afraid to step out of my comfort zone. I also enjoy working the bag room at Greenbriar Country Club on weekends. Prior to COVID, you would find me caddying most weekends at Forest Hills Country Club. In both positions I'm able to take my passion for golf and help out a member with their own game.
I work hard to keep my grades up at school, I am an Honor Roll student and I have a 4.029 GPA. I was chosen by my coach at Marquette to participate in athletic leadership meetings to discuss how to be a leader and help our team succeed. I was recognized as athlete of the month in October 2019 at my school. I am also a member of Key Club and I volunteered for more than 50 hours in my first year at Marquette. I always feel really good after I finish volunteering because I know I helped someone and made a difference.
I am very outgoing and have a bright personality, which makes it easy for me to make friends and get along with others. I look forward to being part of a team where everyone is like a second family; where we encourage each other to do our best and will help each other no matter what. A team that works hard and still has time for a little bit of fun along the way would be an ideal fit for me.
More Information, Schedules & Swing Videos: https://pcusick040.wixsite.com/peytoncusickgolf