Blake Bollenbach- Jenks High School
Playing golf for Jenks High School was a dream for senior Blake Bollenbach. The completion of that dream allowed him to express gratitude to his school for everything it gave him. “I love the fact that when I perform well in tournaments, it reflects positively on my school,” he said.
Through golf, Blake learned that life’s circumstances can change rapidly. “Regardless of whether things are going well or poorly. It has helped me appreciate the good moments and understand that the bad ones are temporary, as everything can shift in an instant,” he says.
Blake’s favorite part of being on a team has been building friendships. “I have created countless lifelong memories that wouldn’t have been possible without my teammates. I’ve also learned a lot from the upperclassmen during my time at Jenks,” he said.
Former teammate and 2022 graduate, Buddy Wirly, had the greatest impact. “He taught me numerous aspects of golf, including how to approach the game and the right mindset to have. Off the course, he instilled in me the importance of proper manners and respect,” said Blake.
Many opportunities have come from Blake’s golf career. One that stands out was playing as a pro in the Taylor Gooch LIV Pro-Am at Cedar Ridge Country Club. “It was an incredible experience being on the range surrounded by all the LIV golfers. It is a day I will always remember,” he says.
“My biggest inspiration is my family. Seeing how hard my parents work to provide for me motivates me to work just as diligently to show my gratitude to them. Additionally, my sister inspired me on the golf course because she was a talented high school golfer. I strive to beat her achievements due to my competitive nature,” he said.
Blake says the best advice is to control the controllables. “People often stress over things beyond their control, but this advice reminds me to focus only on what I can manage. If I cannot control it, there is no reason to stress or worry about it. This is great advice for life as well as on the golf course,” he said.
