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11/21/2023 02:22 PMIt all started as simply a senior year spring fling, but the sport of golf began a long and productive relationship with Ian Reynolds–paving the way for great prominence on the collegiate links.
The East Haven High School Class of 2021 member started playing sports at the age of 3 and stuck with basketball, while also taking part in cross country. After deciding to take on golf in the final season of his athletic tenure as a Yellowjacket in the spring of his senior year, he chose to pursue it further and stay with it at the collegiate level, where he now plays at Emmanuel College in Boston.
Recently, the junior won his first college tournament this fall, and also tied for third overall in the GNAC (Great Northeast Athletic Conference) League Championships at New Haven Country Club, leading the field in pars. Additionally, Ian earned First Team All-Conference (the program’s inaugural First-Team member), and for the second year in a row, the conference’s Sportsmanship Award.
“Golf is so hard to get good at, and it just made me push harder. I worked at Alling Memorial Golf Course, so I was able to play it for free and practice. To me, there is no better feeling than hitting a ball purely,” says Ian. “[East Haven basketball and golf coach] Rick Narracci made me fall in love with the game. All of these accolades have been great and rewarding, and I really strived to get better this past year and have done well with putting.”
Having mentored Ian in a tandem of sports, with hoops in addition to on the links, Narracci details that he never shies away from a chance to sharpen his skill, no matter it being a practice round or the final green in a conference tournament. He also always commands the adoration of his teammates.
“I had the pleasure of coaching Ian in both basketball and golf. He is one of the most competitive kids I've ever coached,” says Narracci. “He takes every practice as an opportunity to get better at his craft, and plays the game the right way. He had his best year as a collegiate golfer this year, winning his first tournament, placing third in league championships, and becoming Emmanuel's first All-Conference golfer. But what I'm most proud of is his making the All-Conference Sportsmanship Team for the second year in a row. He has always had the respect of his coaches, teammates and opponents alike.”
Not only is the competition among its actual participants intensified a touch at the college circuit, but Ian details that the links themselves ramp up in difficulty, as he has begun to learn how to navigate some speedy terrain and double his output for any given round.
“The skill level of the golfers, especially the No. 1, 2, and 3 golfers on a team, is a lot better than high school,” Ian says. “The courses are harder, too. The greens are faster, and you have to focus more on hitting fairways. Playing 18 holes instead of nine is a big difference. This year, I worked on putting it all together for 18 holes after having good and bad stretches the last two years.”
While balancing the books, Ian denotes his drive, both off the tee and to excel in the classroom, has strengthened over his time as a college kid, despite having to log some extra miles in order to get in practice rounds in his vicinity.
“I have gotten stronger and have begun to hit the ball further. I lift three or four times a week during the offseason, which has helped,” says Ian. “I have had to also drive further to courses to practice since there are not that many courses in Boston, plus I still have to give time to get my school work done.”
As a leader of all seasons and squads at East Haven, Ian not only is grateful for the opportunities given to him in the moment, but additionally the connections made with peers and mentors that are still firmly intact presently.
“Being a three-sport captain for cross country, basketball, and golf was a really special time for me,” says Ian. “It taught me to appreciate the good things and all of the good things that have happened to me, along with my coaches from then, who I still talk to.”
Golf is a game that is quite reflective of life, with many ups and downs and days where one may finish under, at, or below par. Ian has taken this to heart by knowing to never relent when things may be working against him, and to keep pushing ahead.
“I have learned to never stop trying and never give up,” Ian says. “I wanted to play college basketball. It didn’t happen and that put me down and out for a bit, but my chance with golf has been amazing. I have also had tournaments where I finished near last place, but I just keep persevering and trying to do my best.”