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Sophomore Summer: Sam Ohno of Men's Golf
8/5/2019 12:00:00 PM | Men's Golf, Athletics
Throughout the summer, DartmouthSports.com will be focusing on members of the Class of 2021 who are currently in their "Sophomore Summers" presented by Cape Air.
This installment focuses on Sam Ohno of the men's golf team. Ohno came to Hanover from Ponte Verde Beach, Florida, where he attended Episcopal School of Jacksonville.
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DartmouthSports.com: What have you been doing during your sophomore summer?
Sam Ohno: Before returning to campus for sophomore summer, I went to Puerto Rico to compete in a golf tournament. After the tournament, I was able to finally relax and catch up with some friends that were also Jacksonville. I definitely spent my last few days at home kind of mentally refreshing myself. However, like most breaks, it went by too fast and I then came up to campus a little early to qualify for the New England Amateur with some of my teammates. After making the trip to the Ben and Jerry's ice cream factory, I was finally ready to unpack and settle into my dorm for the summer. I continued to improve and maintain my golf game and will continue to do so, hopefully, along with my grades.
Â
DS: What was it in the recruiting process that sold you on Dartmouth?
SO: Obviously, the golf course played a large role in the recruiting process for me. It was really important that I had convenient access to golf facilities. Although Dartmouth's academic reputation was very enticing, I was more concerned with escaping Florida's heat. This presence of snow and the small-town feel was what really hooked me.Â
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DS: If you could swap places with one teammate, who would it be and why?
SO: Although I feel like I have one of the more laid-back schedules compared to my other teammates, I would probably want to swap places with Mark Turner. He seems to have an adventurous lifestyle and is very socially active. His golf game is something that would be good to have as well.Â
Â
DS: If you could play another sport at Dartmouth, what would it be and why?
SO: If I could play another sport, it would probably be basketball. Although I'm not in peak physical condition, I have always enjoyed pick-up basketball and shooting deep threes. Guys like Steph Curry and Kyrie Irving make the game look so fun when they pull up from 30 feet and drop buckets on the other team.
Â
DS: Other than your parents, who has had the greatest influence on your life?
SO: I remember reading that our personalities are the averages of our five closest friends or something of that nature. So, I would have to say a certain group of friends back in Jacksonville have had the greatest influence on me. It is because of them that I developed an interest in topics such as computer science and statistics. Many of them have been with me since day one and all possess qualities that I want to emulate. But I think, more importantly, they were the ones that supported my golf passion and followed my results in tournaments. I think it's more meaningful than people think when friends pick you up after bad performances and relish your good ones.
Â
DS: Who would play you in the movie of your life?
SO: Maybe not the most fitting for my personality, but I think Ken Jeong would be very entertaining in a movie about my life.Â
Â
DS: What has been your best on-field memory thus far in your Dartmouth career?
SO: My best on-field memory was by far my performance at Firestone Country Club. I played exceptionally well that week and is something I still reference for positive thoughts. I shot 64 in the first round and was actually leading the tournament by a couple of shots. However, in the second round, I was unable to continue my momentum and basically did everything opposite of the first round. Going into the final round, it was really easy for me to sulk on my inability to follow up on a record performance for me. However, I wanted to prove something to myself along with everyone else. So, I went out and shot 67 and ended up coming in third place in the event. I think this was one of the first times where I really showed myself my capabilities. It showed me that maybe after years of trial and error I knew what I was doing.Â
Â
DS: What's the app you use most on your phone?
SO: I'd say that Instagram is by far the app that I use most. Despite the negative position on social media use, I think it's very beneficial to have a platform that helps us cherish our memories and share them with others. If I had this question a couple of years ago, Snapchat would have been the favorite but when I lost a streak, I was crushed. All that potential emotional turmoil was something I tried to avoid during the hectic quarters here. I think Instagram is better for someone who leans towards the shy side in the virtual world, such as myself, as it is a lot easier to stay passive and still keep tabs on people you want to stay in touch with.
Â
DS: What show do you binge watch?
SO: I'm kind of on a break right now when it comes to watching TV. But from the Fall through Spring, I was able to watch Friends, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, F is for Family, Criminal Minds, Person of Interest, Nikita, The Office, American Dad. I watched bits and pieces of South Park, Family Guy, New Girl and even some of the Netflix Original whose titles escape me. Although possibly unhealthy, it was kind of relaxing to turn my brain off and jump into the plotline of a show. I think it was just my way of coping with the stress of school life. Nevertheless, I am always asking people for recommendations for the next thing to watch.Â
Â
DS: You step outside tomorrow morning and find a lottery ticket that ends up winning $10 million (after taxes). What would you do with the money?
SO: If I won $10 million dollars, I'd probably keep $1 million and then distribute the rest to my family and friends. A lot of people, especially my family, have had to put up with my shenanigans for a long time and they deserve their dues. With my remainder, I definitely try to save as much as I could for the future, but there would likely be some steak dinners or golf trips before that happened.Â
Â
DS: What are your post-Dartmouth plans?
SO: My ideal post-Dartmouth plans would be to work somewhere in the sports industry. I would hopefully use my interest in statistical analytics to accomplish this. However, it would be a dream if I could play golf for a living. It has always been a dream of mine to compete in The Players Championship in my hometown. Just to have the opportunity to play the course I grew up playing in front of thousands of people would be unforgettable. Teaching golf would also be another cool opportunity to grow the game for the next generation. If you had not noticed, golf is a huge passion of mine and any job that is in or surrounds the sport would be a job I love.Â
Â
DS: What would be your best advice to your 15-year-old self?
SO: I think the best advice I could give would be it is sometimes better if I don't think. This is something I still work on, but doubt kills. In high school, it is easy to have that perfectionist mindset and stay within a comfort zone. I mean we want to impress colleges and any big mistakes greatly reduce our chances of acceptance. I think it's better to risk regretting an action rather than regretting having done nothing if it's something your passionate about. Another piece of advice would be, to commit to your own path. This is something I learned from golf; I would rather commit to the wrong shot than not commit to the right shot. It is valuable to learn from experience, more so than from others. I would also tell my younger self to cherish the relationships that you currently have because distance really tests a friendship. The distance can tell you if a friendship was something real or just convenient. You want people in your life that are unaffected by a change in location.
Â
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This installment focuses on Sam Ohno of the men's golf team. Ohno came to Hanover from Ponte Verde Beach, Florida, where he attended Episcopal School of Jacksonville.
Â
DartmouthSports.com: What have you been doing during your sophomore summer?
Sam Ohno: Before returning to campus for sophomore summer, I went to Puerto Rico to compete in a golf tournament. After the tournament, I was able to finally relax and catch up with some friends that were also Jacksonville. I definitely spent my last few days at home kind of mentally refreshing myself. However, like most breaks, it went by too fast and I then came up to campus a little early to qualify for the New England Amateur with some of my teammates. After making the trip to the Ben and Jerry's ice cream factory, I was finally ready to unpack and settle into my dorm for the summer. I continued to improve and maintain my golf game and will continue to do so, hopefully, along with my grades.
Â
DS: What was it in the recruiting process that sold you on Dartmouth?
SO: Obviously, the golf course played a large role in the recruiting process for me. It was really important that I had convenient access to golf facilities. Although Dartmouth's academic reputation was very enticing, I was more concerned with escaping Florida's heat. This presence of snow and the small-town feel was what really hooked me.Â
Â
DS: If you could swap places with one teammate, who would it be and why?
SO: Although I feel like I have one of the more laid-back schedules compared to my other teammates, I would probably want to swap places with Mark Turner. He seems to have an adventurous lifestyle and is very socially active. His golf game is something that would be good to have as well.Â
Â
DS: If you could play another sport at Dartmouth, what would it be and why?
SO: If I could play another sport, it would probably be basketball. Although I'm not in peak physical condition, I have always enjoyed pick-up basketball and shooting deep threes. Guys like Steph Curry and Kyrie Irving make the game look so fun when they pull up from 30 feet and drop buckets on the other team.
Â
DS: Other than your parents, who has had the greatest influence on your life?
SO: I remember reading that our personalities are the averages of our five closest friends or something of that nature. So, I would have to say a certain group of friends back in Jacksonville have had the greatest influence on me. It is because of them that I developed an interest in topics such as computer science and statistics. Many of them have been with me since day one and all possess qualities that I want to emulate. But I think, more importantly, they were the ones that supported my golf passion and followed my results in tournaments. I think it's more meaningful than people think when friends pick you up after bad performances and relish your good ones.
Â
DS: Who would play you in the movie of your life?
SO: Maybe not the most fitting for my personality, but I think Ken Jeong would be very entertaining in a movie about my life.Â
Â
DS: What has been your best on-field memory thus far in your Dartmouth career?
SO: My best on-field memory was by far my performance at Firestone Country Club. I played exceptionally well that week and is something I still reference for positive thoughts. I shot 64 in the first round and was actually leading the tournament by a couple of shots. However, in the second round, I was unable to continue my momentum and basically did everything opposite of the first round. Going into the final round, it was really easy for me to sulk on my inability to follow up on a record performance for me. However, I wanted to prove something to myself along with everyone else. So, I went out and shot 67 and ended up coming in third place in the event. I think this was one of the first times where I really showed myself my capabilities. It showed me that maybe after years of trial and error I knew what I was doing.Â
Â
DS: What's the app you use most on your phone?
SO: I'd say that Instagram is by far the app that I use most. Despite the negative position on social media use, I think it's very beneficial to have a platform that helps us cherish our memories and share them with others. If I had this question a couple of years ago, Snapchat would have been the favorite but when I lost a streak, I was crushed. All that potential emotional turmoil was something I tried to avoid during the hectic quarters here. I think Instagram is better for someone who leans towards the shy side in the virtual world, such as myself, as it is a lot easier to stay passive and still keep tabs on people you want to stay in touch with.
Â
DS: What show do you binge watch?
SO: I'm kind of on a break right now when it comes to watching TV. But from the Fall through Spring, I was able to watch Friends, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, F is for Family, Criminal Minds, Person of Interest, Nikita, The Office, American Dad. I watched bits and pieces of South Park, Family Guy, New Girl and even some of the Netflix Original whose titles escape me. Although possibly unhealthy, it was kind of relaxing to turn my brain off and jump into the plotline of a show. I think it was just my way of coping with the stress of school life. Nevertheless, I am always asking people for recommendations for the next thing to watch.Â
Â
DS: You step outside tomorrow morning and find a lottery ticket that ends up winning $10 million (after taxes). What would you do with the money?
SO: If I won $10 million dollars, I'd probably keep $1 million and then distribute the rest to my family and friends. A lot of people, especially my family, have had to put up with my shenanigans for a long time and they deserve their dues. With my remainder, I definitely try to save as much as I could for the future, but there would likely be some steak dinners or golf trips before that happened.Â
Â
DS: What are your post-Dartmouth plans?
SO: My ideal post-Dartmouth plans would be to work somewhere in the sports industry. I would hopefully use my interest in statistical analytics to accomplish this. However, it would be a dream if I could play golf for a living. It has always been a dream of mine to compete in The Players Championship in my hometown. Just to have the opportunity to play the course I grew up playing in front of thousands of people would be unforgettable. Teaching golf would also be another cool opportunity to grow the game for the next generation. If you had not noticed, golf is a huge passion of mine and any job that is in or surrounds the sport would be a job I love.Â
Â
DS: What would be your best advice to your 15-year-old self?
SO: I think the best advice I could give would be it is sometimes better if I don't think. This is something I still work on, but doubt kills. In high school, it is easy to have that perfectionist mindset and stay within a comfort zone. I mean we want to impress colleges and any big mistakes greatly reduce our chances of acceptance. I think it's better to risk regretting an action rather than regretting having done nothing if it's something your passionate about. Another piece of advice would be, to commit to your own path. This is something I learned from golf; I would rather commit to the wrong shot than not commit to the right shot. It is valuable to learn from experience, more so than from others. I would also tell my younger self to cherish the relationships that you currently have because distance really tests a friendship. The distance can tell you if a friendship was something real or just convenient. You want people in your life that are unaffected by a change in location.
Â
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