Episode Transcript
[00:00:03] Speaker A: Welcome to this episode of Hustle and pro. I'm your host, Kelly Walker. Today we're out at PGA Frisco because we're talking golf. We're talking to golfer Tarini Boga about her experience winning state for Centennial high school this past year, her senior year, and we're talking to her about her journey as she moves on and plays golf in college. So enjoy this episode of Hustle and pro.
Welcome to Hustle and pro. Torini Boga. Did I say your name right? Okay, great. Thanks for joining us. You were just telling me how busy you were this weekend with golf. So you just said you played 36 holes a day for three days.
[00:00:39] Speaker B: Yeah, I did.
It was a match play bracket, so as you move forward, you go up in the bracket. And I ended up going to the finals, which was pretty good. But, I mean, it was very tiring. So.
[00:00:52] Speaker A: So I want to rewind a tiny bit, because I talk a lot on this podcast about first go ISD students. I know you're technically not a Frisco ISD student anymore, right? You just graduated. Yes, I did, in May.
But I know that I feel like you had a really big milestone. So tell us what. What your big accomplishment just was right before you graduated.
[00:01:11] Speaker B: Okay. So for uil, I just want to state the five a girls Texas state championship. For golf, it's a pretty big accomplishment. I think it's one of the biggest and probably the biggest in Texas. So, I mean, obviously throughout my golf journey these past couple years in high school, I'm really glad that I was able to end on a good note. And, you know, I've come this far, and I really can't wait to see what, you know, this will lead me to. So, yeah. Yeah.
[00:01:38] Speaker A: Was state.
Had you ever been to the tournament before?
[00:01:42] Speaker B: I have. I've been my.
My sophomore year, my junior year, and my senior year.
[00:01:46] Speaker A: Oh, okay.
[00:01:47] Speaker B: Yeah. So.
[00:01:47] Speaker A: So you were comfortable being there?
[00:01:49] Speaker B: I was. It's actually. It was actually a different course than what we played the first two years.
[00:01:53] Speaker A: Okay.
[00:01:54] Speaker B: So not too comfortable, but I kind of had the experience, so I knew what I was heading into.
[00:01:59] Speaker A: Your sophomore and junior year at state, how'd you do in those tournaments?
[00:02:02] Speaker B: I. So I think my sophomore year, we ended like 9th as a team. I think it's out of twelve. So we got a. We were very low in the field, but I didn't play very good. I think I was still very new to the sport and kind of how high school worked and how that works, so it was very. I was very nervous that first year that we went, but I was kind of in the lower end of the field. Yeah, I think I kind of junior. I got a little bit more comfortable. I finish after the first day, I was sitting in, I think, fourth place. I was, like, top five, which was not too bad. I kind of just went down after day two a little bit, and the nerves got to me. So, I mean, it was still a learning lesson. I 100% think that, and, you know, I think that happened for a reason, so I'm not mad about that. And then I'm glad that this year I kind of overcame both those challenges and was able to come in first, win it all. Yeah, I think that's such a crazy improvement from going from one of the lower ends, like almost last place, to winning, which is something.
[00:03:05] Speaker A: Yeah. Do you think that that made that? Was that a goal that you set.
[00:03:07] Speaker B: For yourself, then not winning? Not that, obviously, winning is a great thing, like you expect you would love to win. I didn't have my expectations too high. I knew where I stood, so. But I'm really glad that I was able to, you know, get it, get me to a point where I did have a chance. So, yeah, that I was in that position.
[00:03:25] Speaker A: You mentioned, like, I think your sophomore year at state, you were a little bit newer. Do you mean new to the sport or just at that level?
[00:03:31] Speaker B: You mean at that level? I feel like I've had the experience in smaller tournaments, but I wasn't really at that level for high school, and that's kind of the highest level where you can go. So it was very nerve wracking for me. But I started playing golf when I was in fifth grade, and so it kind of grew from there. I was in between sports. I played soccer for a long time.
[00:03:56] Speaker A: I want to talk about that, too.
[00:03:57] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:03:57] Speaker A: So talking about playing soccer and the differences with. They're such different sports. Right. I mean, obviously, like, physically they're different sports, but also just mentally.
[00:04:08] Speaker B: Completely.
[00:04:09] Speaker A: Right. Mentally. So just kind of.
What do you feel like are the differences or playing as an individual and as a team? Let's talk about that.
[00:04:18] Speaker B: I mean, definitely there's a team aspect to golf. I think there's both that team aspect and individual, where you kind of know mentally where you stand. But soccer has taught me so much. I mean, I played ever since I was really young. I think three to, like, high school. So, I mean, I really grew, and I learned a lot about it. I learned a lot how to be a team player, how to kind of maneuver through those challenges, like physically, I think golf has taught me a lot. Mentally on that side.
I really learned to be patient with myself a lot, which is a big thing, and kind of, like, take everything one step at a time. It's not too rushed. It's a very slow paced sport compared to soccer.
[00:05:01] Speaker A: So what was your soccer position?
[00:05:04] Speaker B: I was a striker.
[00:05:05] Speaker A: Okay.
[00:05:05] Speaker B: Yeah. So I was always, I actually played every position when I was little. I kind of moved around, so. But, I mean, golf is like, I learned golf was, like my true passion, and I really stuck with it from there.
[00:05:19] Speaker A: Do you feel, when you talked about the mindset, like, do you feel, like, put yourself back in those positions, especially, like, as striker, like those rushes and the surges as opposed to, like, the slow pace and patience? Right.
[00:05:30] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:05:30] Speaker A: Of golf. So when you say different mindset, is that what you mean?
[00:05:33] Speaker B: Yeah, I would think so. I think that, like, you always have to be in the moment in soccer, same with golf, but you kind of have to think ahead.
You know, you want to pace yourself. There's mentally, it's a really long time, like, to think and you think a lot when you're playing golf. You know, on soccer, when you're playing soccer, like, it's all in a moment, right.
[00:05:55] Speaker A: It's like, feel like when you're playing soccer, right. It's, you train for it, and then it's just your body's natural reaction.
[00:06:01] Speaker B: Right.
[00:06:01] Speaker A: If you get a pass or through ball, whatever, like, you. You just know what to do with it because it's right there and you're, you know, you're going to the goal. But, like, with golf, you have to think through every decision.
[00:06:11] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:06:12] Speaker A: I mean, I wonder how many decisions you make, right?
[00:06:14] Speaker B: During one round mean soccer, you can, like, practice for it. You can set yourself up for a certain shot, or you can do that for golf, it's hard to set yourself up, but it's like every shot is different. You, you get really lucky. You get really unlucky. So, I mean, it just, it really depends. And that's just a lot to think about as you're playing.
[00:06:34] Speaker A: So when we're talking about the team aspect of soccer, right. You, like, you can kind of understand your teammates strengths and weaknesses and, like, you have a specific role on that team. Does golf have that same aspect where, when you're playing, you know, I saw you playing here recently with your centennial team, and there were about five of you. Do you have a role on that team or is everybody playing the same.
[00:06:55] Speaker B: Kind of, in golf, you kind of have, like, a lineup where it's like, you know that you're the first seed, second seed, third seed, so on. So it's, it's five of you and you kind of know where you stand, how you have some expectation on your back, you know, being probably the top three seeds, you know, that you have to play well.
[00:07:16] Speaker A: So, you know, going into it, like, how you're ranked. Is there a team captain?
[00:07:21] Speaker B: No, not. I mean, generally, like, for the team, there might be one, but, like, the seniors were on the team captain this year for high school, so it kind of worked like that. But it's not necessarily out of the five, there's a team captain. It's kind of, you know, whoever takes leadership in that position. But I think soccer is a lot different where everyone is kind of equal and they all have their own job. They all have, you know, defense, midfield, offense, kind of has their own job.
[00:07:48] Speaker A: Right.
[00:07:49] Speaker B: So.
[00:07:49] Speaker A: But sections of the field, their responsibilities.
[00:07:52] Speaker B: Right. Yeah. So, I mean, golf is still that team aspect, but it's like, you know, you have to perform well. So, I mean, it kind of just works on that. And, I mean, you can make mistakes, but it's like, you know that it, like your team still relies on you and for both, sure.
[00:08:10] Speaker A: So when you're on the golf course with your teammates, do you always know what they're doing, how they're doing? Because we're not always with them. Right.
[00:08:18] Speaker B: Yeah. For. I mean, for college and high school, you can kind of, like, look or like, ask your coach. You can be like, oh, how is so and so doing? How's.
[00:08:26] Speaker A: Do you do that?
[00:08:27] Speaker B: I do. I actually check up on my girls a lot. I find that it kind of comforts me, like, knowing that if someone's doing bad, I kind of need to pick it up or not, that if they're doing good, I can kind of pace myself, but it's like, I just like to know where everyone stands and kind of.
[00:08:42] Speaker A: Yeah. You're not wondering. Yeah, that's interesting. So you ask your coach. Yeah, I've always, when I've out here, when I've been out here watching, I've always wondered, like, how does the coach see it all.
[00:08:53] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:08:54] Speaker A: Being, you know, five different places at once, whatever. I guess they just, they're running around and you guys have runners and fans and people and parents that are keeping everybody updated.
[00:09:03] Speaker B: And sometimes he doesn't tell me directly. He just tells me, oh, like, so and so is doing good, so and so is doing bad. So so is one over, two over. So it's, it's like, it kind of just depends.
[00:09:13] Speaker A: You keep saying he. So you had Coach Ott and Coach Margraves, is that right?
[00:09:17] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:09:17] Speaker A: And those were different school and then.
[00:09:19] Speaker B: Yeah. So coach Brad Ott is my outside coach. He's my swing coach. He kind of helps me on techniques and, like, my dynamic with golf. And then coach Margraves, he's more of like a school coach, you know, kind of just there for support. He.
We do strategy and things like that, but it's more directed to school tournaments and kind of how we view the game and then outside, like, prepping that way. Right.
[00:09:47] Speaker A: Instead of, like, your technique individually.
[00:09:49] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:09:50] Speaker A: How do you feel like it's gonna be in college? Cause I wanna talk about. I wanna talk about your college experience and, like, what you expect.
[00:09:56] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:09:57] Speaker A: So let's just back up then for that. So, gosh, it's the end of July, so you're probably heading off to college soon. Like, all these people are who just graduated. Like, I talked to you about my daughter doing the same thing. You are going to ut Arlington.
[00:10:14] Speaker B: Yes. Yeah.
[00:10:15] Speaker A: So what do you expect that to be as far as, you know, how many, like, how many girls are going to be playing with you there and that, like, the coaching dynamic there?
[00:10:24] Speaker B: Yeah. So, I mean, I'm super excited. I mean, this. I mean, I never expected me to at first, like, win state and then kind of like, grow off that and then know, you know, I feel like so much happened at one time and I'm really glad that, you know, I'm going to Arlington somewhere, like, close, and it feels like home to me so far, so I'm really excited about that.
But for the girls that I'm playing with, they're all local girls, so I kind of know them or, like, know of them, so you do? Yeah.
[00:10:54] Speaker A: Have you played against some of them? Like, the ones that are your age or one or two years above?
[00:10:58] Speaker B: I met them, but I haven't. Like, they're a couple of years older than me, so I just wasn't too into the sport then.
[00:11:03] Speaker A: That's cool, though, that you have familiar with them?
[00:11:05] Speaker B: Yeah, yeah. So, like, I know their names and everything before I joined, so it was really good.
[00:11:09] Speaker A: How big is the team?
[00:11:10] Speaker B: It's about six or seven people right now. I mean, I think there's still some things that are moving around, like people transferring, things like that, so.
But I'm very excited. Six? Yeah, six or seven people. So that means, like, I wanted to play. That was the main reason I'm going to Arlington. I really wanted to play get my name out there, kind of see where golf can take me, knowing that, like, I will play.
[00:11:34] Speaker A: Yeah. How did that work out as far as knowing the timeline of, like, knowing when you. That you wanted to play in college? Like, I assume maybe you were early high school or something when you realized you maybe were good enough. So. Yeah. Tell me about that.
[00:11:46] Speaker B: So I was early high school. I was still in between sports. I mean, soccer. Yeah, a big thing. I would play.
I would play a lot of soccer and then a lot of golf, almost like it was four sports, because I'd play both inside of school and outside of school, so.
[00:12:03] Speaker A: Oh, so club soccer, school soccer, outside golf, and school golf, yes.
Through sophomore year.
[00:12:10] Speaker B: Through sophomore year.
[00:12:11] Speaker A: Okay. Yeah, that is a lot. So you probably had to decide.
[00:12:14] Speaker B: I did, yeah.
[00:12:14] Speaker A: Was there a point when you wanted to play college soccer?
[00:12:17] Speaker B: I mean, I was always in the back of my mind. I really didn't make that decision till sophomore year. Right. So.
But, yeah, I really felt like golf was my passion. I grew to love it. My dad, he. He grows, and he plays it as a hobby, so growing up, I kind of just picked it up through him, too.
[00:12:34] Speaker A: That's awesome.
[00:12:35] Speaker B: So, um. Sorry, back to the question.
[00:12:37] Speaker A: Yeah, yeah. So what, just the timeline. Um. So then maybe by junior year, you were like, you thought it was something you could do playing college.
[00:12:43] Speaker B: Yeah, yeah. So, yeah, I really. I kind of was late to the process. The golf recruiting process is a little different than a little bit of other sports. Obviously, there's a timeline for everything, so they kind of reached out through the national tournament again. So it was like, I reached out first, but, I mean, it was back to back emailing, so it was good. And then I committed around, I want to say, September. August. Yeah.
[00:13:11] Speaker A: So as you got into your senior year, you settled in, knowing where you were going to go, right?
[00:13:15] Speaker B: Yeah. Like, I wanted to keep it super easy on myself. I didn't want to stress myself towards.
[00:13:20] Speaker A: The end of the year, you know, making decisions and.
[00:13:22] Speaker B: Yeah, yeah.
[00:13:23] Speaker A: Then you could just play. So you mentioned the national tournament. That's how I met you. And so you're talking about the PGA National High School Invitational.
[00:13:32] Speaker B: Yes.
[00:13:33] Speaker A: Okay.
[00:13:33] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:13:34] Speaker A: And so there's a boys one the week before, and then you guys, the girls, you guys, girls were here.
It was June or July?
[00:13:43] Speaker B: Was it July? It was July.
[00:13:45] Speaker A: I'm getting all my summer golf, but it's confused. So it was July. So tell me about that tournament. That wasn't your first time, then you saw you the first year, right?
[00:13:54] Speaker B: Yeah. So my first year, I came in fifth. I think the field has gotten a lot more competitive since then. I mean, obviously, you know, more people in Texas, and they kind of want to get the tournament out there, so I know it'll be competitive over the years, which I'm glad about.
Yeah, I did come in tied for fifth my first year. I think that's also why they kind of reached out and kind of went through that path, which is good. It was a good starting step.
But this year, you know, I kind of had my hopes up a little bit. I knew where I stood, but also there was very. The field is very good, so, I mean, it was harder and better.
[00:14:29] Speaker A: Right, right.
[00:14:30] Speaker B: Yeah, there are some. There are some good teams out there, so I'm really glad that, you know, our team did well. Our team did very well. We came in tied for seven, or I think 7th this year, which is not bad at all.
[00:14:42] Speaker A: Yeah. So that's your centennial team? High school team, and so was that the last time you got to play with them?
[00:14:46] Speaker B: Yeah, that was. So it's a little bittersweet, but I know. I mean, these five girls are one of my favorite group of girls to play with. I mean, we've had some moments here and there, but we always come through, and I feel like just. They'll definitely be missed. I mean, I know they have a lot of potential. It's a very young team. I mean, there's two seniors leaving, but the other three are, like, kind of underclassmen, so they're kind of moving up.
[00:15:12] Speaker A: So they can keep going with the momentum that you guys have. What are you doing when you're not on the golf course?
[00:15:18] Speaker B: I have a lot of other hobbies. I play all sports still to this day. I picked up pickleball.
[00:15:24] Speaker A: Oh, yeah?
[00:15:25] Speaker B: I play some spike ball just here and there. You know, casual things. I do some art. I like ceramics. That's a big thing in school.
[00:15:35] Speaker A: Nice.
[00:15:36] Speaker B: Yeah, just I'm not too big on, like, school specifically. I mean, like, I'm still, like, a good student. I feel like.
[00:15:44] Speaker A: You sound active, though, right?
[00:15:45] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:15:46] Speaker A: You want to be busy, right?
[00:15:47] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:15:48] Speaker A: On a court or something or with your hands or.
[00:15:50] Speaker B: I'm always outdoors. Like, I love going on, like, walks, you know, running, things like that. So I'm always staying active, which is one thing.
[00:15:58] Speaker A: What about when you're going to school here, going to Uta? What is it that you are studying? Like, what's your major?
[00:16:06] Speaker B: I'm doing business analytics right now.
[00:16:07] Speaker A: Ooh, business analytics.
[00:16:09] Speaker B: Yeah. Okay.
[00:16:10] Speaker A: Is there a job you want not.
[00:16:12] Speaker B: Specifically, I think I'm still exploring. I know that golf is kind of. Or, like sports, something in that direction is kind of what I want to go for.
I really want to see how far golf takes me. I'm still not new, but I'm still learning more about myself and how far I can take the sport.
[00:16:35] Speaker A: Yeah. And the big scheme of things is kind of new.
[00:16:37] Speaker B: You are kind of new.
[00:16:38] Speaker A: You're so young.
[00:16:39] Speaker B: I think so, yeah.
I mean, I do think this is just the beginning, so I want to see how far it takes me, which is a big thing.
[00:16:45] Speaker A: Well, you're in the right place. Right. Growing up in Frisco. Were you in Frisco all this time?
[00:16:49] Speaker B: Yeah, I lived in Plano, and then I moved across 121.
[00:16:52] Speaker A: Okay.
[00:16:53] Speaker B: So literally down the street. And, yeah, I went to Frisco growing.
[00:16:56] Speaker A: Up here, I mean, especially now with golf here, with the building that we're in right now, northern Texas, PGA and PGA of America next door. And this is facility. Did you. How often were you coming here for when you were in high school?
[00:17:11] Speaker B: Oh, in high school, we came here once a week on Mondays was our day. Each high school gets a designated day, so our days for Mondays, it's a really great facility. I mean, we get to play out here all the time. That front nine at west was always a. I consider, like, a pretty easy run through of what, you know, we could expect.
[00:17:29] Speaker A: Yeah. Comfortable with that.
[00:17:31] Speaker B: Right. Yeah.
[00:17:32] Speaker A: That's amazing, right. That you. That's your comfort level. It's. It's amazing to think about, but when you think about jobs and the possibility of, you know, working in golf, this is a really great.
[00:17:43] Speaker B: Right.
[00:17:43] Speaker A: Foundation for you to have.
[00:17:45] Speaker B: I definitely believe so. And, like, I know a couple friends that intern here and things like that, so I definitely feel like this is the right path I'm headed towards. And, yeah, I know that there's all. There's always going to be something at PGA for me, so. Which is good, definitely.
[00:18:01] Speaker A: Well, that's exciting. And I'm glad PGA connected me to you so that I could meet you and sit down with you. So what's next? Like, what are your immediate next steps? Moving. Moving out of the house.
[00:18:14] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:18:14] Speaker A: Getting your own. Are you dorm. Dorming it?
[00:18:16] Speaker B: I have an apartment, yeah. It's a four x four.
[00:18:20] Speaker A: Oh, what fun.
[00:18:21] Speaker B: It's. Yeah.
[00:18:22] Speaker A: Do you know your roommates yet?
[00:18:23] Speaker B: Yeah, they're my teammates.
[00:18:24] Speaker A: Oh, good.
[00:18:25] Speaker B: So, I mean, yeah, I'll be with them a lot, which is good.
I really am excited to get into that athlete setting. Yeah. Get up and kind of work in that schedule. So, I mean, that's something I'm looking forward to.
[00:18:37] Speaker A: That's great. That just sounds fun.
[00:18:38] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:18:38] Speaker A: The whole your next few years already sound like a joy and a really good time for you to compete at what you do and enjoy yourself and meet a new set of people in golf for you to connect with.
Best of luck.
[00:18:52] Speaker B: Congrats.
[00:18:52] Speaker A: Congrats to you.
[00:18:53] Speaker B: I'm very excited. Yeah, very exciting.
[00:18:54] Speaker A: And thank you for coming out today. I know you're in your summer, and so thanks for taking a minute and sitting down with us.
[00:19:00] Speaker B: No, I appreciate it. I appreciate you having me and everything so. Of course, yeah.
[00:19:05] Speaker A: Thanks for joining us for this episode. Be sure to subscribe to us on YouTube and follow me on Instagram. Hustle Ann Pro for updates on what's going on with this podcast and just general my life inspiration in Frisco, Texas. We'll see you next time.
