In the world of golf, few accomplishments shine as brightly as a victory at a prestigious tournament. We recently had the pleasure of exchanging with Tony, a talented IB School DP2 student who made waves at the Grand Prix de Vichy, a renowned national competition hosted by the historic Le Golf de Vichy, a club with over a century of tradition. 

This three-day event showcased the skills of 100 passionate players of all ages, but it was Tony who stole the show, breaking the course record. Finishing an impressive 11 shots under par, he clinched victory with a two-shot lead. Discover Tony’s incredible journey evolving in the world of golfing.

 

 

How long have you been doing this sport?

I have been playing golf for 12 years now, starting at the young age of 4. Despite playing for so long, I really enjoy this sport, whether during training or tournaments.

How do you manage to juggle your highly demanding academic curriculum with your also highly demanding training program and competition schedule?

Being able to keep up my studies while playing golf at such a high-level is very demanding. It is very time-consuming, and I had to sacrifice a lot of my free time to meet these requirements. However, playing golf is something that I enjoy and want to do, so I don't take it as a burden, but more as an opportunity to rest my mind from the huge workload for school. And vice versa, when I study or am at school, I use that time to rest physically. I feel like sports and school complement each other well. It is also good to have friends who I know can trust for lesson notes when I am away for tournaments.

What has being a high-level athlete taught you that you can use for your academic studies?

A big part of being a student-athlete is time management. This skill allowed me to manage and organise my school work well, especially with the deadlines in DP2. Even the simplest things, such as waking up earlier to train and sleeping later to finish homework, taught me essential values, such as discipline, resilience and work ethics, which all helps in my academic studies. I feel like being a high-level athlete is more of a help than a potential burden in my academic studies.

Have you had any mentors or role models in golf who have influenced your journey?

My parents and my golf coaches are the people that I look up to. They have had a great influence in my golf journey and still do. I'm grateful for everything they did to help me progress in golf. 

 

How did you prepare for the Grand Prix de Vichy? Did you have a specific training routine?

The tournament was right at the end of summer holiday, so I had more time to dedicate myself to golf rather than academics. I did not particularly change my routine because I had a tournament coming up, but I made sure I was prepared as much physically as mentally. 

What was your mental approach during the tournament, especially when things got tough?

I did not have the opportunity to play a lot of golf tournaments because of my tight academic schedule, so I really wanted to enjoy this opportunity. Although I was one of the favourites, winning wasn't my focus. My mental approach really consisted of respecting my process (pre-shot routine) every shot, and staying lucid throughout the whole tournament. 

Can you share your favourite moment from the tournament? 

It was definitely the last day, being able to play such good golf to break the course record is truly amazing. However, I will always remember my last putt on the 18th hole to conclude my round, it was at that moment that I realised I really won. 

What are your goals for the future in golf? Are there any specific tournaments you're aiming for?

I want to continue my golf career in college in the US, as it is in this country that both golf and academics combined are the best. There are no specific tournaments I really aim for, but continuing winning in France or on the US ground in university would be the objective. 

What has golf taught you about life that you find valuable?

Golf taught me a lot. The most important one is patience. Because golf is a very unpredictable sport, even at your best, things may not go your way. As a result, I learned to not rush things, knowing my opportunity will come, whether in golf or in life.

If you could play any golf course in the world, which one would it be and why?

It would be the Augusta National Golf course in the US. It is such a reputed golf course among golfers, notably because one of the most prestigious pro tournaments is happening there - the Masters. 

What advice would you give to young athletes aspiring to compete at a high level?

I think being a student-athlete is super tough mentally. We may feel physically tired from all the training sessions we do, but ultimately, it is the discipline and the constant pressure from performing that is really draining. My advice is to ask ourselves if competing at a high level is what we really want to do, considering all the extra effort we are putting in the long term, not to mention all the sacrifices we have to make to compensate for our time training. But if we really do, then it is to find happiness in what we are doing, whether the joy of training, or in school hanging out with your friends. That way, being a student-athlete will feel more like a privilege than a burden. The last thing we want is the latter.  

We are incredibly proud of Tony’s achievements and confident he will continue to excel both in golf and academically. We wish him the best of luck in his future endeavours!