In our latest Student Profiles blog, we catch up with Leo Zurovac who recently graduated from our Triple A Elite Programme and is now headed of to Butler University in Indianapolis to continue his golf and education journey.
Hi Leo! Thank you for joining us today at The Jason Floyd Golf Academy to tell us about your experience on the Triple A Elite Programme. Could you maybe start by telling us a little bit about yourself?
Hello, my name is Leo Zurovac and I am a 17-year-old Croatian golfer currently playing off a +5 hcp. I was a full time student on the Triple A Elite Programme and have now graduated and will be going to to Butler University in Indianapolis after summer.
How did you originally find out about the JFGA that made you want to join our Elite golf programme?
My journey began in the summer of 2019 when I first came for a summer camp at the academy.
I decided to join the academy as a full-time student in 2020 as I felt it would be the next best and most appropriate step to get me prepared to play college golf and also help me with pursuing my goal as a future professional golfer.
I decided to take this opportunity as I used to play golf in Kenya and I felt that I had reached the maximum possible level I could there so moving to the Jason Floyd Golf Academy was the best decision I could have made for my golfing career.
Tell us a little about your original experience at our Summer Camp. What was it that made you sure you wanted to join our full-time programme?
After my two week stay at the Summer camp, I saw a major improvement in my golfing game in the months that followed as I was given access to a trackman and force plate which is equipment that is vital for the golfing game that I had no access to in Kenya.
I was really pleased with the Instructor team and the knowledge they had about the game of golf. That’s what fully persuaded me to join the academy as I felt there were no better people that could have more knowledge about the game and how it could be applied to me in order to improve.
It’s fantastic that you started on the JFGA Summer Camp and decided that you wanted to join the full-time programme. Our Summer Camps are a great way to experience what our Triple A Elite programme is like. Moving from a part-time experience to a full-time experience must have been quite a change. Were there any challenges you found at the start?
At the beginning of my stay on the Triple A Elite programme, I found the programme quite tiring as I wasn’t used to playing golf and studying every day and I felt I was a bit mentally and physically drained every day. However, it did not take me long to get used to the programme as it became a routine that I followed every day for two years.
I believe it is an excellent programme if you want to pursue college golf it’s setup to be very similar to a typical day of a student-athlete in the USA.
As you mentioned, getting students ready for college life is a really important part of the programme. What was your schedule like and what sort of things did you do with your free time?
Even though we have a really packed schedule, there is always time left out where we are free to do anything. During this time I usually hang out with my friends on the programme and do different activities where I am able to refresh my mind.
Two years has flown by and it’s hard to believe you are a graduate and off to Butler University after summer! What are some of the things from your time at the Jason Floyd Golf Academy that you’ll always remember?
Over the past 2 years I have had a number of different highlights in the academy from the gym sessions with Oli and the swing session with Jason. My main highlight however has to be when I won the Triple A World Series Final which was a big goal of mine since I joined the academy. Another highlight would have to be all the great memories that I made with my friends on and off the golf course.
We have to congratulate you again on that win! You put in an amazing performance during the Triple A Series and definitely deserved the trophy! Could you tell us about some of the challenges that you possibly encountered in your golfing game and how did you overcome those challenges?
During my two year stay, I encountered a couple of challenges golfing-wise. Over the course of the two years, my golfing game had changed drastically. This meant that my swing had also changed. I was a rare case where I gripped the club in between a side cover and a side on and I am also in between a front post and centre post golfer. Having a combination of two grips and stance made it challenging for me to have a lower flighted and controlled ball flight. However, with dedication and advice from my coaches, I was able to maximise my swing in order to perform much better.
When you joined the academy you were playing of a -5 hcp. To get your handicap down to +5 hcp is an amazing achievement that really shows your journey through the Triple A Elite Programme. What are some of the main things you think our instructor team helped you with?
The JFGA instructors have both helped me within the academy and also outside. They have been able to help me improve my game to a very high standard. The JFGA instructors were able to help me understand my own swing and also make me familiar with different moves that are crucial to my swing by using equipment that I had never been familiar with. They have also helped me to improve my mentality as a whole whether it be on the golf course or in life, generally, where I have learnt that if you put your mind to something with a bit of effort everything is possible.
Now that you have graduated from our Triple A Elite Programme; what are some of the things you think you’ll miss the most?
During my time at the academy I was fortunate to be part of the Triple A Elite squad where I have made friends and memories for a lifetime. I have really enjoyed traveling with the whole squad, playing tournaments and building friendships with everyone at the academy which is something I will miss most.
Half of your time spent on the Triple A Elite Programme has been with at the JFGA and half has has been studying at Sotogrande International School for your International IBs. How has your final year been and how was the university application process?
It has been a tough final year as I have just completed my final exams which required a lot of hard work and studying. Due to covid, the university application process has been much slower than usual. However, with the help of the academy and ASM I was able to sign for Butler University.
My process of getting accepted to Butler went rather smoothly as I was lucky enough to have ASM help me find a university. Butler University has a very strong academic background which was a major attraction for me. In addition, I believe the coach at Butler University is a very enthusiastic coach that wants the best for the team and is ready to help with anything to help us benefit as a team which really intrigued me.
Now that I am going to Butler I am very excited to be playing college golf as It has always been a dream of mine and also to be studying finance at the same time. I am also excited to meet and make new friends in the U.S.
The team at JFGA are going to miss your enthusiasm and we wish you the best for this new chapter in your golf and education. For our new students starting in September, what advice would you give them to get the most out of both?
To the students that are joining in September, I would advise you to be very open-minded and to listen to what your teacher and coaches tell you as they only want the best for you. Even if it doesn’t seem to be working in the short run it will pay out in the long run and most importantly have fun in any activities that you pursue as these are moments that you will not be able to relive.
I have truly had so many great memories over the past 2 years at the Jason Floyd golf academy that it would be impossible to only pick one.
Thank you Leo for taking the time to talk with us! Good luck for your tournament series over the Summer and good luck with your move to the U.S. and starting at Butler University! We are sure we’ll see you again soon in the future!
