On Sunday, November 7th the National High School Golf Association along with the New England Section of the PGA and Mass Golf hosted the 2020 Massachusetts High School Championship at Shaker Hills Country Club. In an effort to provide a canceled postseason tournament for high school golfers in Massachusetts, the championship showcased 104 of the top high school golfers in the state. Dan Brooks, a 2021 grad from Shepard Hill earned medalist honors with a two-under-par 70. We sat down with Dan to learn more about his high school golf journey and what he has his sights set on in college and beyond
● Can you tell us a little about how long you’ve been playing golf for & how you got into the game?
“I have been playing golf since I was four years old. My Dad was also a golfer and got me started. I really started focusing on golf as my main sport starting in 8th grade.”
● What do you enjoy most about playing golf?
“I enjoy the challenge of playing golf. No matter what level I reach I know that there is always room to improve.”
● You’ve been playing high school golf for three years now, what is your favorite thing about playing high school golf compared to just individual tournaments in the summer?
“High school golf is a great opportunity to represent your school and community in a way that individual summer tournaments do not offer. In individual tournaments, usually, my name is shown while in high school golf your school is listed as well. I love having that opportunity to represent my high school and community.”
● What does high school golf mean to you?
“High school golf has meant a lot to me. Through high school golf I made friends, was able to represent my school, and was given the opportunity to compete at a high level against the many of the best in Massachusetts.”
● What did it mean to win the Mass High School Championship with no state championship this year?
“It was an honor to win this unique championship, especially with this year being my senior year. I can’t thank the NHSGA and everyone who played a role in putting on this championship enough.”
● Can you tell me about a time when you had to face some adversity in your life or game and how you dealt with it?
“In golf, I have found that there are high and low points in everyone’s games. I have learned that it is important to move on from bad tournaments and to understand that there are too many tournaments to get hung up on one poor performance.”
● Are you looking to play golf in college?
“I am committed to play golf at Siena College.”
● What are some of the goals that you have set for the rest of your high school/junior golf career?
“Now that my college decision is over, my main goal for the rest of my junior golf career is to get myself prepared to be successful at the collegiate level.”
● Any advice that you would give to other high school golfers out there that are looking to better their games?
“My advice would be to practice more and to believe in your own ability. Playing confident and being committed to shots will lower scores.”