Ryan Genualdi understands that golf is a game of numbers, and that only plays into his hands.
The Durango High School golfer has been one of the Demons’ most consistent golfers this season. Earlier this year, Genualdi won his first golf tournament in Pagosa Springs where he fired a career low 78. His 82 was among the best varsity scores on Monday at Hillcrest Golf Club for the annual Durango High School Open loaded with some of the best talent in the region.
It’s quite a feat considering that Genualdi has barely been playing the game for two years. Golf isn’t the easiet sport to take up as a teen, but the 4.0 student and self-proclaimed math lover caught on in a hurry.
Many golfers new to the game are probably curious as to what’s the junior’s secret.
“I just try to have fun out here and not get frustrated like so many people I see on the golf course,” said Genualdi, son of Patricia and Robert Genualdi. “I know that when you get frustrated, bad things happen. There’s such a small difference between a good and bad round, there’s no sense of having that ruin your day.”
Walking off the 18th green is hardly the end of the day for Genualdi, who understands that academics is his key to future success. He heads home from the golf course, eats and studies and goes to bed.
The golf and baseball player at DHS has visions of being an accountant, engineer, chemist, or “anything with numbers” as he says, and that might explain his newfound love for the game of golf.
“Hey, golf is a numbers game, and if you can interpret and apply the numbers correctly, it’s a huge benefit,” Durango head coach Kirk Rawles said. “Ryan has come so far in such a short amount of time and I think that has a lot to do with his mental capacity. We have a lot of guys who care about grades and that’s always a good thing to have.”
Learning golf takes some serious work ethic too, and obviously the Durango High School DECA business club member knows how to put forth the effort in school and out.
“I took a few lessons at Hillcrest and I just kept practicing hitting balls until I started to make some progress,” he said. “I’d putt and chip until it was time to head home and start studying. Golf is interesting because I can do everything right in my head and calculate the shot but something in my swing can ruin it. If I do everything right in my swing and don’t calculate the numbers right, that can ruin it too. You have to be so precise, and that’s why I love it.”
jfries@durangoherald.com
Behind the scenes
What is your favorite sports movie?:
Benchwarmers
What teacher made a great impact on you?:
Mr. Kirkpatrick at Escalante Middle School.
Where is your favorite vacation spot?:
I really liked spending time in Michigan.
Who is your favorite golfer?:
Jason Day
Who is your favorite Baseball player?:
Mike Trout
What clubs are in your golf bag?:
All Taylor Made clubs
What is your favorite subject in school?:
Calculus
What is your favorite kind of music?:
I just love country music.
What is your nickname?:
The baseball guys somehow came up with “Baldy” and I’m not even bald.
What is your favorite outdoor activity other than golf?:
I love to fish.
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