Meet Samantha Massei of Women's Golf
11/29/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
Q&A With Samantha Massei
1. How did you get involved in the game of golf?
Growing up I remember my dad going out to play every weekend, but I never showed an interest. I was involved with soccer and dance, which together took up a majority of my time. By the time I was in 8th grade my dad introduced me to the game. I wasn't very focused on it, but once I was living the summer before my freshman year at Allen High, I lost interest in other sports I was playing and decided to start getting competitive with golf.
2. Why did you choose Seton Hall?
I spent a lot of time looking at schools and deciding whether I wanted to go to college and be a part of a dance company, or a collegiate golf team. Both were passions of mine, and I had options in both fields. For golf I was stuck between a few schools in the north-east and for dance I was set on Southern Methodist in Dallas, which was only a 45 minute car ride away from home. Ultimately, I decided I wanted to experience a new lifestyle and that golf was the best option for my future. That's when I heard from Clay White, the men's golf coach. He flew me out on a recruiting trip a couple weeks later and I really fell in love with the program. However, my deciding factor was in future my teammates and our coach. I felt that Coach Doell would help me reach my potential and had the best coaching style for me.
3. What challenges have you had to overcome on the golf course?
The biggest challenge for me on the golf course is developing mental stamina. My biggest problem is my head. I tend to get too mad over a bad shot, and proceed to have a four or five hole span of bogies and doubles. Once I can figure out that aspect of the game, it will show in my scoring average.
4. What was your favorite experience from the fall season here at Seton Hall?
My favorite experience this past season was definitely our away tournaments. I had so much fun with my teammates, getting the opportunity to compete at a new level of competition and having Coach Doell and Coach Murphy there with us. Being able to experience the first season of Seton Hall Women's Golf with the team I have was more than I could ask for
5. What is the greatest lesson that you have learned from the game of golf?
The greatest lesson I've learned from golf is to learn from mistakes and move on. Let go of what has happened in the past, no matter how recent, and push forward. The sooner you can do that, the sooner you'll be able to live in the present and improve your future.
6. What accomplishment in your golf career are you most proud of?
I'm most proud of my first TLJGT tournament. I was more nervous than I had ever been because up until that point I had only competed in high school tournaments and the majority of the playing field was much more experienced than I was. The first day I didn't finish with a score that I was proud of and, the second day was better, but still not what I expected of myself. Finally I showed up on the third day, in the pouring rain, and shot the lowest score of the tournament, as well as my lowest personal score up until that point.
7. In your free time, what do you enjoy doing besides spending time at the golf course?
In my free time I definitely take advantage of NYC. Haley, Hannah and I tend to go at least once a week and with a past as a dancer, I like taking master classes every once in a while when I'm there. I also love watching movies, being with my friends, music, seeing my family and just taking the opportunity to do nothing.
8. If you weren't on the golf team here, what other sports team would you most likely be interested in being on and why?
I would be most interested in playing soccer if I didn't pursue golf. It's the only other sport offered here that I have experience in, and while I played I enjoyed competing.
9. What is your major and why did you choose to study that? Do you have educational aspirations beyond your undergraduate degree at Seton Hall?
My major is communications and I chose it because I want to pursue a career in public relations after I graduate from law school.
10. What goals do you have both on the golf course and in the classroom during your career here at Seton Hall?
I definitely want to get my scoring average back down to where it was before I entered the collegiate level and work on the mental aspect of the game. As far as my education goes, I want to make sure that I graduate with at least a 3.5 GPA and that I make it into a good law school.
