Junior Francesco Ruffino was at a golf tournament in Oregon when he received the call from his coach Leon Braisted.
His coach told him that he had won the coveted Mr. Golf award for Michigan.“I was a little surprised,” said Ruffino. “I mean you can never take anything for granted. I knew I was in the top for consideration for this event but still, I wasn't completely sure.”
Not only is Mr. Golf the highest award given in the state of Michigan to high school golfers, but Ruffino was the first sophomore to win in the history of the award.
“That was the coolest part of the whole thing,” said Ruffino. “Being able to say that I’m the only sophomore to ever win the award was awesome.”
During the 2011 season, Ruffino had an average of 71.5 for 18 holes.
He also dominated all season in tournament play, winning the Division 1 Regional title, along with other tournaments.
Ruffino fell short in the state playoff, ending in third place, just two away from first only as a sophomore.
Not only is Ruffino the team’s best golfer, but he brings a great leadership role to the team.
“Franny [Ruffino] just brings encouragement to the matches and tournaments” junior teammate Tim Pierce said. “I expect him to just keep contributing and playing like how he has. He also has the ability to win Mr. Golf the next two years.”
Pierce is not the only one who thinks Ruffino is a great leader. Braisted did not return calls from the Highlander by press time, but he did praised Ruffino’s leadership in an interview with C and G News.
“He has a great work ethic, and always encourages his teammates and brings the best out of them,” Braisted told C and G News July 12, 2011. “He didn’t get to where he is now showing up five minutes before his tee time. He works hard on his game.”
If Ruffino wins again next year, he would be one of only four to win the award consecutive years. If he won the next two years, he would be the first ever to win three times.
With all of these accomplishments just two years into his high school career, one would think Ruffino would be somewhat cocky.
This isn’t the case at all.
Ruffino bring a demeanor well beyond his years each and every time he goes out on to the golf course.
“It’s odd because, knowing the golfer he is, you’d think he’d be cocky,” senior teammate Nick Vick said. “Well he isn’t. Yes, he can hit the fairways consistently and hit the greens with precise accuracy, but shows no emotion. That’s a great attitude to have on the golf course.”
When asked if winning this award put any extra pressure on Ruffino, he did not seem too worried.
“It puts a little extra pressure on me,” Ruffino said. “But its good pressure because it makes me work harder knowing that everyone I play will bring their A game trying to beat me. So I know I just have to play my best each and every time I step onto the course.”
