Madison Gilmartin '12 Recruiting Profile

I love golf. From the first time I picked up a club four years ago after my family stopped for ice cream at a driving range, I have loved the game. Although golf can be frustrating at times, I usually enjoy working on my game, especially when it leads to things like the individual conference championship I won as co-captain of our school team this season. However, I know I have much room to improve and hope to find a college program that will help me to do that. Although I have played a variety of sports golf gives me the chance to succeed individually and as part of a team. While I won our conference individual championship with a score of 77 in 2010 (Update: I won our 2011 conference championship with a 70 this year), I was just as excited that our team finished first too. My sophomore year, I came in 2nd with an 86, so I can tell my game has gotten better. I have finished 1st, 2nd, and 3rd after playing more than 20 Philadelphia PGA Junior Tour tournaments, including several two-day events. I placed second and third in two Women's Golf Association of Philadelphia tournaments this summer, which included my first hole-in-one. I am a good teammate and, as former captain and current assistant coach for my former CYO team, I can also lead while being just an all around fun person to have on the team. Although golf is my passion, I know the importance of academics and am looking for a college that will prepare me for a career beyond golf, although I think it will always be part of my life. Maybe that will mean working in the golf industry, which is one area of study I'm considering, or just continuing to play the game for fun. I consider myself lucky because, through the people I have met as a golfer, I've gotten to play some of the best courses in the country, including Merion, Aronimink and the ACE Club. While those experiences make me love golf here in Pennsylvania, I am also interested in colleges in North Carolina, Florida or really anyplace where I can help a team, they can help me improve and I can get a great education. Golf has given me opportunities I never would have had otherwise. My biggest regret is that I didn't start sooner.