Julian Valenti '24 Recruiting Profile

     I was exposed to the game of golf at a young age, watching family enjoy the sport .  My interest  peaked when a baseball injury forced me to consider other sports from the typical higher impact activities that I was playing , soccer, baseball, and basketball.  At age 10, I started  focusing on learning the game of golf and have never looked back.  I started playing tournament golf,  getting into the competitive side of the sport.  I made the Jr PGA Central Illinois All Star team.  After that, I started competing in local Springfield, Illinois  tournaments,  and eventually moved to The Prep Tour tournaments my freshman year of high school.  The Prep Tour is a regional group of tournaments offering exposure to the top players in the area, with many collegiate coaches attending and playing at yardages similar to those found in college.  

     I was fortunate to qualify for the Regional Final in the NOTAH BEGAY JGNC tournament last year.  Competing in the qualifier at Purdue University was a personal highlight for me, allowing me to play with junior golfers from nearby states that played at a very high level.  Although I didn’t move on to the national event, I learned a lot about what I needed to work on to play at that level.

     I feel that I’ve grown the most, not only as a golfer, but also as a team player when my high school team did not make it to State my sophomore year.  We were not focused on playing as a team that year and I feel that hurt our chances. The following year our team worked together more cohesively and this showed in our performance.  When we made it to the State tournament my junior year and placed well, this gave me a sense of accomplishment and understanding that at times golf is very much a team sport.

     I have been told by many and believe  that I am a true student of the game and that I am extremely coachable.  I love learning the mechanics of the sport and have a passion for executing what I learn. I have however realized that being a good ball striker isn’t the only thing that you need to be a truly good golfer.  This realization has pushed me to focus on my mental game this past year, believing this is possibly the biggest part of golf.  I am looking for a school that fits me academically , and a golf program that will challenge me.   I  am excited about competing at the collegiate level, finding the right program and coach to help develop my game further and take it to the next level.  I hope that someone will see past my mid seventies tournament average and recognize my potential.