15 questions with ... Hayden Adams, a Penn men's golf freshman

After finishing the fall season 11th out of 13 at the Georgetown Intercollegiate, Penn men’s golf hopes to improve during the offseason, aided by a promising young star, freshman Hayden Adams. In two of the final three tournaments, Adams carded team-low scores, placing 13th of 78 at the Temple Invitational and 35th of 74 during the Georgetown Intercollegiate. The Daily Pennsylvanian sat down with Adams to ask him 15 questions about his golf career, his time at Penn, and his life off the course.

1. Can you introduce yourself?

I’m Hayden Adams, I’m from Lexington, Ky. I’m a freshman here at Wharton and I plan on studying finance.

2. What got you into golf?

It was really my dad. He played a lot when I was younger. He got me into it. Originally, I played all kinds of sports when I was younger, and then I liked golf the best and I stuck with it.

3. Why Penn?

Originally, If you asked me freshman year of high school, I would have said somewhere South. As I got older, I started looking more Ivy. It was Columbia where I really wanted to go. Then I came here, I really got along with [coach Clay White] well. I liked the guys on the team. Wharton is a huge draw – I still want to play pro golf, but that’s a fantastic backup if [golf] doesn't work out.

4. What has been your favorite experience on the golf team thus far?

Our third tournament this fall, we went to Maidstone in East Hampton. One of my teammates is a member of the course we played and we stayed at his house that weekend. It was a super fun event [and] a super fun experience with the team. A lot of parents came out. It was a fun weekend being at my buddy’s house — a different kind of comfort level that we experienced as a team.

5. How would you describe the team culture?

About a year ago, they weren't super close. During spring break, they went to Scotland, and the team got super close. Since I’ve been here, the team culture’s been good. We’re all really close and have done a lot of stuff together outside of golf, [like] a lot of team dinners.

6. Do you have a favorite moment outside golf with the team?

A couple of weeks ago we had a team dinner and then we went to one of the [Penn] hockey games together as a team. We were together all night. We had just played a qualifier earlier in the day, so we were tired and ready for a good night.

7. What does a typical day look like during the fall season?

Monday through Friday we did lifts in the morning. Monday [and] Wednesday we actually had off in terms of golf, [so] we loaded up on classes on those days. Tuesday, Thursday I have class in the morning — I have an 8:30 — after that, I grab a bite to eat and then go straight to the golf room and we have practice. I was busy with golf [from] 12:00 [until] 6:30. [I] come back, get dinner, study, go to bed. Friday we have to lift in the morning and then we would usually go and play on Fridays as well. Now that we’re in the offseason, this first week we get the week off from everything, which is nice. Although most of us practice and go work out on our own.

8. Do you have any superstitions?

I always mark my golf ball with a red “H.” Every final round of the tournament I used to wear the same shirt, [but] I can’t do that anymore.

9. Who is your favorite golfer?

Jordan Spieth. When I was younger I think I played a lot like him.

10. What is the coolest golf course you have played on?

Shinnecock Hills. We just played it while we were up at Maidstone.

11. Do you have any hobbies outside golf?

Any sports. I love everything with sports. So I love watching sports, playing sports.

12. What is your favorite sports team?

College-wise, I’m a Kentucky fan. So football season is never that fun, basketball season is pretty fun. Pro-wise, I’m a Bengals fan in football. Baseball, I’m a Reds fan.

13. What is your favorite dining hall on campus?

Houston, for sure.

14. What is your favorite class at Penn?

Legal Studies 1010. It’s interesting reading about all these different cases [and] the crazy stuff that people will sue other people for. 

15. Do you have any personal goals for college?

I want to win an event, or more. I want to win an Ivy Championship. I want to have a good enough spring to be in contention for Ivy Freshman of the Year.