My name is Cate Sanders and I am a 2028 recruit from Monticello High School in Monticello, IL. I just finished my high school season and was the IHSA State-Runner up this year. I played in a few notable tournaments this summer, including the Notah Begay Regional qualifier in Indiana where I T5 with a 159 and the Illinois Girls Jr. Amateur. I have a 3.97 GPA, and find academics, especially STEM classes, to be a strength of mine. Some current goals of mine are: to place top 10 in the Hurricane Tour National Championship this coming December, win a state title in my senior season, and shoot consistently under-par in tournaments next summer.  

I have been playing golf all my life; however, I didn’t start playing serious tournament golf until my sophomore year. The key thing that has helped me improve so much since then has been achieving a strong mental game and creating a scheduled practice routine. My favorite part of golf, especially in the high school season, is the team aspect. My teammates and the coaching staff at our school have really fostered a healthy environment for me to be able to grow as a golfer and a person. Throughout the summer they helped me regain my confidence after a knee injury by instilling great practice and mental habits. In addition I am a well rounded student that excels in academics and has many leadership positions in my high school, including junior class president. While balancing school and golf, I also work a part time job at our local golf course and partake in many activities at school for lifesavers and student council. 

I enjoy learning new things and I strive for excellence in the classroom and on the golf course. My discipline is one of the reasons I have seen such improvement over the past years and I am excited to chase my goals for this coming season and the many seasons I hope to follow. For more information, please email me at catesanders2028@gmail.com.