Ashley Liles '19 Recruiting Profile

I started playing golf approximately three years ago easily shooting over 100 each time I played. It wasn't until just after I began playing that I recognized my ability to compete. Tenacious, a word that accurately describes me, meaning it is a part of my nature to never give up on anything I set out to accomplish. Golf makes me want to accomplish the skills necessary for a great game and the art of competition. Most things in my life prior to golf had always come easily such as school, sports and the social life everyone wanted. Being one of the first activities that introduced me to hardship, golf had naturally intrigued me. I found a teacher, in search of guidance regarding the realm of golf which brought challenge and improvement at both equal rates. A reoccurring conversation had at my lessons were comparisons between me and other girls he taught. My coach never failed to describe the remarkable things they all have accomplished. No matter what his motive may have been for telling me these acts of eminence, I wanted him to talk about me the way he talked about other girls. One day being able to describe me as an accomplishment, not a work in progress. Ever since, every move I've made, whether it be a mistake or an improvement with my game has played a role in my journey towards reaching the best of my ability.

Golf has brought out my stubborn sense of determination on more occasions than one, but the most impactful experience I have endured was during my freshman year. I was new to the sport and came into it not knowing what to expect. When I made varsity as a freshman I was definitely in for a bit of a surprise. The team lacked organization and quite frankly skill, but we did not lack potential. Not qualifying for states my freshman year along with not having much playing time made me realize just how much I wanted to be great. When my freshman season came to an end, I immediately began to test and push my own potential, getting better at an increasingly fast rate. I taught myself the true values of drive and commitment. My staunch sense of practice has made me realize, when I do attend college I would like a program that would continue to push me to my best possible potential athletically and academically.