Athlete of the Week: Dhaivat Pandya, Centerville High School

Dhaivat Pandya

Dhaivat Pandya

Name: Dhaivat Pandya

School: Centerville

Grade: Senior

Age: 17

Sports: Golf

Claim to fame/honors: Medalist last year at Findlay Invitational and Kiley Cup; high school state qualifier; average 18-hole score of 73.5 and average nine-hole score of 36.75; named Golfer of the Year East Division in GWOC; shot lowest round of 68 at Memorial Junior tournament on Scarlett Course this summer; member of National Honor Society.

Bet you didn’t know … I’m left-handed and I play right-handed

Words you live by: If you’re not first, you’re last

Toughest opponent: Julian Perico from Peru (in junior tournaments)

Biggest influence: My dad

Match-day rituals: Music play list that I rarely change

What’s on your bedroom walls? Trophies, pictures of me playing golf

When I’m bored I like to … watch SportsCenter

Favorite movie: Step Brothers

Person who would play you in a movie: Jamie Foxx

Favorite TV show: Narcos

Favorite musical artist: Migos

I can’t live without: Golf

I can live without: Potato chips

Event you’d like to attend: Masters

Favorite book: The Big Miss by Hank Haney

Favorite home-cooked meal: My mom’s enchiladas

Favorite restaurant: Chipotle

Favorite smell: Fresh-cut grass

Favorite cereal: Lucky Charms

Store where you’d like a shopping spree: Golf Galaxy

Vegetable you won’t eat: Spinach

I’d love to trade places for a day with … Dustin Johnson

Place where you’d love to travel? San Diego

Talent you’d like to have? Flying

Favorite school subject: Math

Favorite athlete: Tiger Woods

Favorite team: Ohio State

Favorite Olympic sport: Swimming

Something in the world I’d like to change: All the pollution

Favorite sports moment: Making a 25-footer in first playoff hole to win my first Golf Week Junior event in 2015 at Dayton Country Club

Favorite junk food: Bagel Bites

Best thing about golf: Nobody can limit how good you can get

In 10 years, I hope to be … on the PGA Tour

Nominate an Athlete of the Week: Send an email to freelance writer Dave Lamb at d_lamb@msn.com. Please include the athlete's name, school, sport and a phone number or email address where we can reach that athlete. Please include Athlete of the Week in the subject line.

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