Richard Lane '21 Recruiting Profile

My goals for college are simple. I have dedicated myself to the game of golf and it is my dream to play at a higher level. I intend to pursue a degree in business with the goal of working in the golf industry. I have prepared for this by engaging in a robust academic curriculum and rigorously pursuing golf challenges.  

I can't remember a time in my life when I didn't have a golf club in my hand.  In middle school, I played summer tournaments, and put a lot more effort into the game. In high school, everything changed. I fell in love with the game.  Going to the golf course every day to practice is not a job or a chore, it’s what I am driven to do.   With this passion means more practice, which in turn means improvement.

My 6’4” height provides me a distance advantage. Distance is one of my strengths.  However, I'm not just a one trick pony. Like all golfers, I have had difficult days on the course.  But each time, I used those lessons to improve my game.  Not only does it mean mechanical improvement, but also mentally it includes a much deeper understanding of the game.  As such, my golf IQ is very high and is always growing. I am a student of the game.  I am able to solve problems on the course and I try to learn from every shot. I have the ability to create shots from the fairway as well from the deep rough. I'm not just thinking deep on the course, I'm also creative with shots when necessary.   

I am the captain of my 2020-2021 high school golf team.  Although golf is an “individual sport” being part of a team means mentoring other players to elevate their game.  Giving back and being a good leader is an imperative part of becoming an adult.  During off-season months I invite and pick up younger team members to play in order to enhance their game and our team.  In Colorado the high school sport of golf is fortunate in that we are able to have a 2020 fall season – to increase team unity another senior teammate and I have made golf masks for team members to wear to all tournaments.  I also work with our local assistant pro in delivering golf lessons to junior golfers.  

The two strongest aspects of me as a recruit are coachability and academics. With regard to coachability, I learned the game from my father.  Under his tutelage my scores are already solid, but I aspire to becoming a top-tier golfer.   I haven't even come close to reaching my peak yet and I know that I have a lot of potential that I haven't come close to unlocking. In addition, I work as a cart boy at our municipal course and pick the brains of the good golfers that I encounter and immediately practice the tips they give me. 

In relation to academics, I am a strong student. I enjoy learning and school comes easy to me. I'm currently ranked 15th in my class with a 4.4 GPA after taking numerous honors classes, multiple Advanced Placement courses and achieving 21 college credits before my senior year. 

I am also very involved in my community, and through my church, initiated, led and facilitated a multi-denominational project in which 65 potted plants were grown from seed in our backyard and delivered to shut ins during the pandemic quarantine. I am also active in 4-H, in archery, shotgun, community service and leadership.  In 2018 I was a Colorado Delegate to the National Citizenship Washington DC Focus session in Chevy Chase, Maryland.  

As a collegiate-level golfer, I will bring enthusiasm for the game, dedication to practice and self-improvement, all towards the goal of competitive success.