3 minute read
FEATURE
A look at MSU’s top ranked athlete Garrett Leek
His years of experience and constant ability to transition his skills from one sport to another makes him no ordinary golfer. Leek’s awards make him a stand-out player as he’s earned the Lone Star Conference golfer of the week twice, in 2019 and 2020, as well as the Lone Star Conference freshman of the year in 2019. His eye is always on the prize, and that dedication to winning continues to pay off as he swept through the Lone Star Conference with the sixth-best season scoring average PHOTO COURTESY OF GARRETT LEEK in program history at Third-grader Garrett Leek golfing with his father Wayne Leek. 72.65. “I’ve always envisioned myself as being KHIRSTIA SHEFFIELD better than the past,” FEATURE EDITOR Leek said. “I don’t want to settle on
At four-years-old his passion just winning college tournaments, for golf was ignited. After but being recognized for the hard being handed his first golf work that I put in is a bonus to what club and making that first swing I’m trying to work on, which is beinto the endless array of grassy ing as good as I can possibly be. I fields, he fell in love with the free- am not a very satisfactory person; I dom and limitless opportunity golf always think there are ways I can be gave him. Growing up in a small better, but I am beyond thankful for rural area just a few miles outside all the resources I’ve been exposed of the big city, sports were always to and the people I have in my cora prominent part of his life. Follow- ner.” ing the footsteps of his dad who was Leek says golf is more than just a basketball coach, Garrett Leek, a game. Leek thrives off of the menmanagement sophomore, was never tal challenge that golf presents and afraid of a little competition, so he through those challenges, he has tried his hand in basketball. As a learned some of the hardest lessons two-sport standout in high school, of life. he took pride in being a part of a “Golf has taught me how to be team, but nothing resonated with patient and how to be happy with him more than golf. myself no matter what’s going on,”
“I’ve been around competition Leek said. “No matter how I feel, I my whole life,” Leek said. “What I still have to find a way to believe in like most about golf is that it’s all on myself despite the challenges I may me. It’s either I win myself or I lose have in front of me.” myself, and that’s the good and bad Despite his success, getting to of it. That’s what makes it so hard, where he is today hasn’t always you can’t play bad and win. I enjoy been easy. Leek says he’s fallen that the most though, because I can in love with his journey and he’s push myself and see that improve- learned that he loves his weakment.” nesses as much as his strengths, and that’s what allows him to break barriers.
“It’s a real time-consuming sport,” said Leek. “During the winter I spend three to four hours practicing because sunlight is so important, but during the summer I can spend up to eight hours practicing. It’s a mental sport to the extreme, and I spend time learning how to react and adjust to everything I’m given.”
Leek said the hardest part has always been balancing school and the sport he loves. Unlike most sports, Leek can spend up to eight hours playing up to 36 holes. However, Leek carries the same attitude off the field and doesn’t settle for average. In 2020, he was on the Lone Star Conference’s Honor Roll.
“I’ve learned more and more how to use my time to my benefit,” Leek said. “As a college athlete, I still want to go have fun and hang out with friends, but I try to use my 24 hours wisely. It has its ups and downs, when you have tests all week and you’re gone for tournaments, it gets really hard to balance, but I don’t let that stop me.”
As someone who has dedicated most of his life to one sport, Leek is a true dreamer and the sky won’t limit him. After college, golf won’t stop being the central focus of his life as he plans to be a contender in the Professional Golf Association. What started as one swing turned into a lifelong career and an unbreakable legacy.
