Dominic Bozzelli plays golf for the challenge.
His first collegiate win came when he shot six under par at the U.S. Collegiate Championship in Alpharetta, Ga., Oct. 18, where he also received co-medalist honors.
"Obviously it's quite an honor for him to win something like that," said coach Nick Clinard.
Bozzelli, junior in interdisciplinary studies with a focus in business and psychology, started playing golf when he was 5 years old.
He credits his grandfather and his dad for introducing him to the game by taking him to tournaments and teaching him how to play.
He said he loves golf because he can keep playing and improving.
"There's no real end in golf," Bozzelli said. "You control your own destiny."
During his prep school career, Bozzelli was active in basketball, baseball and running, but golf was where he was most successful and where he spent his high school years.
After graduating from McQuaid Jesuit High School in Rochester, N.Y., Bozzelli signed to play golf for the University of Central Florida.
When Clinard, who was then head coach at UCF, accepted the coaching position at Auburn, Bozzelli followed.
Bozzelli said he transferred because he had spent the entire recruiting process getting to know Clinard and wanted to stay with him.
"Coach Clinard and (assistant coach Evan) Osteen are great coaches," Bozzelli said. "They keep on us and stress work ethic."
Like most serious golfers, variations of hole design, weather conditions and even the kind of grass on the course are things he has to take into account when teeing off.
To prepare, the team arrives days before tournaments and plays practice rounds to get a feel for the course.
"We get to know what clubs to hit off the tee," Bozzelli said. "Usually when the tournament comes around, you're ready to go."
Clinard said Bozzelli is a good guy on and off the links.
"He's really matured as a young man and as a golfer as well," Clinard said. "He's worked his rear off to become better, and he's really, really improved. He's got a big heart. He's got a lot of guts, and he's going to have a nice future ahead of him."
A future, Bozzelli and Clinard said, that will most likely include going pro.
To make it to the PGA, Bozzelli said he can't stop working.
"I'm trying to get better each and every day," Bozzelli said. "Sticking with the plan that the coaches have laid out and take it one day at a time. After I graduate, definitely going to try to get into that."
Bozzelli said going pro will mostly depend on how well he performs in college and amateur tournaments.
"It's a real competitive sport," he said. "A lot of people try to go pro. Only 125 make it onto the PGA Tour each year. So five years from now, if I had my tour card and I was playing each week, that'd be awesome."
Bozzelli and the men's golf team are currently on break until spring semester. Their first match in 2012 will be the Gator Invitational at the University of Florida Golf Course Feb. 11-12.
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