While many teens spend their weekends partying, hanging with friends, sleeping, or binge-watching the latest Netflix original, Riya Ahuja, Class of 2018, is alone. 

Twelve years ago Ahuja picked up her first golf club. As a child she spent countless evenings with her father out on the driving range watching him tinker with the mechanics of his own swing. 

At six, Ahuja tried out a small beginner golf class. Less than a year later at age seven she won her first putting competition. It wouldn't be her last. With each successive victory, the drive to excel intensified. 

“Early career wins were really motivating and they propelled me to get better and better,” said Ahuja. By age 12 Ahuja was regularly competing in tournaments across India. One year later she was ranked number one on the merit order in India and was invited to represent the country at the Evian Championship Juniors Cup in Evian, France. 

She joined Singapore American School in 2015 as a sophomore and immediately began to make her presence known among her Interscholastic Association of Southeast Asia Schools (IASAS) peers. On the international circuit, Ahuja won the 2016 'A’ Division at the Mizuno Laguna National Junior Golf Championship and the 2016 Golfweek Midwest Invitational in Lemont, Illinois. She also finished fourth at the 2017 Warren MST Amateur Golf Championship in Singapore. 

She adheres to a strict practice schedule and typically spends two days out on a course and two to three days on the range. Practice sessions are fluid and based on her most recent statistics. The numbers help guide the movements she works on. However, every session will include several basic movements like putting drills to improve her stroke and distance control drills to help her long game. 

On top of the many hours spent specifically focused on golf, Ahuja adds additional training to make sure her body is conditioned at an elite level as well.
“I usually workout every other day and I allocate each day a workout that focuses on a different body part. During the school week I workout after golf practice, which is around 7:30 p.m. When my school schedule is less hectic and I get to sleep more, I workout at 5:00 a.m. before school, she said. 

According to the NCAA, only 2.9 percent of all high school female golfers will earn a spot on a Division I collegiate team. While many high school athletes are willing to dedicate countless hours to practice on the field or in the gym, what often sets elite athletes apart is their willingness to make sacrifices in other areas of their life. 

“Ever since 13, it was like I changed my entire lifestyle,” said Ahuja. She hasn’t had soda since 2015. During the season she cuts out artificial sugars and processed foods from her diet. Her family vacations have also been planned around golf tournaments in the last couple of years. 

“Even in terms of my social life, I feel as though I haven’t been loyal to the teenage community that I am part of. I have been selective in the parties that I attend, because no matter what, there is always going to be morning practice or an early morning workout scheduled for Saturday and Sunday morning,” said Ahuja. 

Next year Ahuja will compete as a member of the University of Wisconsin Badgers golf team. While Wisconsin has tremendous golf facilities, it was coach Todd Oehrlein who solidified her decision. 

“Throughout the selection process, I had to keep in mind that I would be seeing my coach six times a week for four hours a day. In order to enjoy my time playing and learning, it was imperative for me to find a coach who I was comfortable with and could see myself working well with, and Wisconsin seemed to check of all boxes in the criteria. The other important aspect of choosing the right college was a good balance of academics and sports. Wisconsin fit the bill very well as it has a good ranking in both golf and academics,” Ahuja said. 

While the journey of a Division I athlete might be a bit lonely at times, Ahuja understands that to accomplish anything significant often requires sacrifices and following the process to the tee. 

“You have to trust the process because in the end it all becomes worth it.”