An Adelphi University freshman has put together an impressive run on the golf course, leading many to believe he has what it takes to go pro. Ryan Snouffer, 18, has won Northeast-10 Rookie of the Week honors four weeks in a row, and has already claimed the Conference Athlete of the Week award twice in his short collegiate career.

Snouffer clearly has a great level of talent for his age, and his play has turned up a notch over the last few weeks. According to his father Bill, “a light went off in his head recently”, and he credits the work of Coach Jantzen Vargas and his staff.

 “Whoever [Coach Vargas] hooked Ryan up with at the school has made a big, big difference in Ryan's mental attitude,” his father said.

Coach Vargas has a mental advisor for his golfers, who helps in controlling their emotions and “finding the zone” on the course. Without question, Snouffer is now playing the best golf of his life and he believes that one day, he'll turn professional.

"That's my goal, that's what I always wanted to do with my life- be a pro golfer,” he said. “I feel like I'm well on my way.”

Snouffer's journey started at a young age in New Jersey, where his father gave him access to a number of different country clubs. His father is a competitive golfer himself and plays in many amateur events.

When Ryan was six years old, he played his first round of golf with his father, and managed to birdie on a 100-yard hole.
 
“He had a swing,” his father said. “He just had a natural swing.”

But in Junior High School, it seemed the passion was no longer there. According to Mr. Snouffer, he purchased a new set of clubs for Ryan at the time, but they went untouched throughout the summer. He didn't want to push his son to play; he wanted him to enjoy what he did.

However, Ryan decided to join the junior varsity squad when he entered Jefferson High School. In his first round that year, he placed first overall, and beat every score on the varsity team. The next round he was moved up to varsity, and managed to get his name in the local paper. From then on, the passion for golf stuck inside him.

Snouffer went on to become the Morris County High School Boys Champion his junior year in 2010. In 2011, he claimed the High Bridge Tournament Championship and NJ PGA Junior Masters Championship. He represented the State of NJ PGA at the one position and won the Pritsch Cup in Philadelphia. As a senior he made the 2012 All-State Team and left the school with multiple conference championship victories.

Now, in his first year of college, the PGA Tour seems realistic for his future. With a new mental attitude, Snouffer should continue his impressive run, which includes a first place finish at the Dowling College September Shootout and a victory for Adelphi at the Northeast-10 Championship which Snouffer placed first in individually.

“There's no question he can play at the professional level,” said Coach Vargas. “Can he make the PGA Tour? That all depends on how hard he works.”

A skill level of this magnitude is rarely seen at the age of 18, and according to the coach, he is still getting better by the day. With his gifted swing and new mental approach, Snouffer will look to shine at Adelphi over the next few years. As Coach Vargas said, only the “sky is the limit” for this young golfer.
  
Earlier this week, Snouffer shot a 72, 77 and 71, respectively, in three rounds at the Connecticut Cup. He placed 14^th overall out of 88 contestants. Adelphi shot the lowest round in school history at the event with a score of 288.

Snouffer will take home hardware for both Northeast-10 Conference Rookie of the Year and Player of the Year honors. An Adelphi golfer has now taken both of the awards home two years in a row, with Louis Kelly achieving the feat last year.