Enrique Mediato Wins BIG, Settles into life at LJGA
April 26, 2021
Freshman Enrique Mediato Captures Big Win in Mexico, Settles into life at LJGA
Leadbetter Junior Golf Academy (LJGA) freshman Enrique Mediato captured the LXX CAMPEONATO NACIONAL INFANTIL-JUVENIL held April 16-18 in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, a highly recognized international tournament on the amateur circuit hosted by the Golf Federation of Mexico. A freshman at LJGA and Windermere Preparatory School, Enrique grew up in Marbella, Spain, and joined the Academy this past year in August 2020. This is Enrique’s first win since joining the Leadbetter Junior Golf Academy.
“It was very emotional. It is my first win since I have been in the academy, and I couldn’t be happier than winning in a country I have always wanted to visit, and doing so with my friends around me was even more enjoyable,” says Enrique about the victory. “Overall, I played amazing golf in all three rounds, but it is fun when you play your best golf in the final round to get the win,” says Mediato. Enrique recorded three birdies and an eagle to his final round scorecard and finished the event shooting 74-77-72, a 7-over-par total to win by one stroke.
Focusing on the process, Enrique admitted he came into the tournament with low expectations. “I didn’t expect to win but I knew I could play very well being focused on my process. And the process was working as I finished round one as the leader and finished the second round as the leader again. I told myself to keep feeling your process and don’t get stressed or want to go faster just because of winning.” Committing to ‘the process’ allowed Mediato to stay composed down the stretch. “During the last round, I was doing it pretty well as I didn’t even know how close my competitors were. In the last few holes, my closest competitor started making mistakes, so I told myself not to worry about his game and stay focused on my next shot. Later on, on Hole 17 was when I knew I had a very good chance to win after making a nice par putt to have a two-shot lead entering the final hole, where the closest competitor would make birdie and I was able to make par to win by 1 shot and bring home the win,” recalls Mediato. “It was very exciting to get the win in name of the Leadbetter Golf Academy and I couldn’t be any happier than to share it with my friends and coaches.”
Still adjusting to new swing changes and his new life at LJGA, Enrique’s breakthrough win seemed to be just a matter or time and circumstance. “I haven’t been playing my best the past weeks before the tournament, but after looking with my coach, Nate, at the parts of my game that needed more improvement, we focused a lot to improve. Also, we found that I play my best golf when I am having fun with my partners. This was the perfect scenario to make it possible, I had people that talked the same language as me, so I took advantage of it. I think that talking more to my partners in the round and enjoying the moment more allowed me to be successful that week,” shares Enrique.
Enrique’s coach, Nate Dougherty, joined the Academy at nearly the same time as Enrique’s arrival. Nate brings an extensive background to the Academy including competitive playing experience, specializations in applied biomechanics, and training under some of the top instructors in golf. Coach Nate trains and travels exclusively with six LJGA students, including Enrique. Maintaining a small student-to-coach ratio is a top priority at LJGA, one that focuses on providing undivided, personalized attention on and off the course. Enrique shares, “The coaches here are the best I ever had because they are not only your coaches, you can tell them things that you think and they will respect you and try to help you as much as they can, also the relationship they have with each other is unreal. You can feel such a great atmosphere being there. I am living an experience that I would recommend without a doubt to those who want to come to the academy to sacrifice being with their family and friends. In the end, the Leadbetter Golf Academy feels like a family.”
“I am living an experience that I would recommend without a doubt to those who want to come to the academy to sacrifice being with their family and friends. In the end, the Leadbetter Golf Academy feels like a family.”
Not only a confidence boost on the course, this win also provided Enrique valuable reassurance that his sacrifice to move away from home was starting to pay off. “Of course, when I came for the first time, it was very hard for me to adapt to the new place. It was my first time without my parents and without my friends, also being in a different school took me a bit to get adapted, but it was worth it to get through that little stage and enjoy the process I am going through now.” He continues, “Being part of the academy has been incredible, not only in terms of golf but also to be more responsible with the decisions I take and take pride in my work. These months have been amazing, I couldn’t be happier than I am. Spending time with the people I love and enjoy being with while doing what I like. It is an experience I never had before.”