Meet the Player: Adriana Eaton

Sep 19

4 min read

Responses provided by Adriana Eaton via written correspondence and published as received.

Portrait of Adriana Eaton holding her trophy after winning the 2026 Rhode Island Girls Junior Amateur Championship. (Photo courtesy of Adriana Eaton)

Adriana Eaton is a golfer from Rhode Island who is the 2023, 2025, and 2026 Rhode Island Interscholastic League (RIIL) High School State Champion and the 2026 Rhode Island Girls Junior Amateur Champion.

How did you first get into golf, and what made you fall in love with the game?

I got into golf at a young age, with my parents introducing my sister and I to the sport. We would play together as a family on weekends, my sister and I competed in the Jr. PGA League matches, and we played fun competitive games on the range and short game area. Those early experiences made me learn about the game and helped me develop a love for it, something that is such an important part of my life now. While I fell in love with the game early, this love has strengthened as years have passed because new aspects have been introduced to me. No longer was I just practicing or playing with my family, but I started to play competitively. This allowed me to fully understand the game of golf and how a challenging sport can be so addicting. Golf is a sport that keeps you coming back no matter what. It isn’t a game of perfection, but you want to get as close to it as possible and you feel this with a great round, a perfectly struck shot, or even just how beautiful a hole is.

If you could have one conversation with your younger self at the beginning of your golf journey, what would you tell her?

I would tell my younger self to have fun in all aspects of the game. When a junior golfer first gets into competitions it is extremely easy to get focused on scores and let that dictate everything. However, golf is so much more than a result in one tournament. One bad round doesn’t define the golfer or person you are. Golf goes far beyond your performance. It is about the people you meet, the connections formed, the memories you make, and enjoying the process. It is hard to go into your first tournament (actually any tournament) and not want to perform well, but as each tournament passes it is easier to realize that golf is more than the results.

Adriana Eaton watches her putt roll towards the hole. (Photo courtesy of Adriana Eaton) — Adriana Eaton watches her putt roll towards the hole. *(Photo courtesy of Adriana Eaton)*

What is your favorite memory from playing golf?

I have soooo many memories from playing golf, so I honestly don’t think I could pinpoint one specific moment. The moments that have stuck with me are from my first Drive, Chip & Putt competition, to playing with my family, to competing in tournaments, to being part of a team, and making lifelong friends. At the end of the day, golf is an individual sport, but when you share it with other people it feels (and is) so much more than that.

What is one lesson golf has taught you that influenced your life beyond the course?

One of the biggest lessons golf has taught me is that adversity is part of every process. Golf is a game where even your best rounds can include mistakes, but learning to move on and focus on what is in front of you has been important to learn and apply to my everyday life. Not everything is going to go exactly as planned, but focusing on the mistakes will only hold you back.

Adriana Eaton watches her pitch shot on the course. (Photo courtesy of Adriana Eaton) — Adriana Eaton watches her pitch shot on the course. *(Photo courtesy of Adriana Eaton)*

What are some mental qualities/mindsets that have helped you achieve success in this sport? Do you have a certain pre-shot routine, self-talk, etc?

I think the biggest mental quality that has helped me through my golf journey is the ability to reset. Golf is a sport that requires an insane amount of mental effort, and it is hard to play good golf when you're frustrated. A simple deep breath can be beneficial to reset after a bad shot or bad hole because this small action calms yourself, letting yourself know that it's in the past and the best thing to do is to focus on the shot in front of you.

What would you say to a girl who feels intimidated or doesn't think she belongs in golf?

If you love the game, don’t let anything else take that away from you!

If you could leave one message for the next generation of female golfers, what would it be?

Believe in yourself, have fun, and enjoy the process.