Rollins360 - Playing for Brazil

September 29, 2014 - by Daniel Paulling '08

Golfer Clara Teixeira '16 has represented her home country of Brazil in major international competitions in Turkey and, most recently, Japan.

Clara Teixeira '16 plays a joke on all freshmen on the Rollins College women's golf team.

When they learn she's from Brazil, the senior tells them she lives in the jungle before eventually revealing her hometown of Rio de Janeiro actually has 6.32 million residents, about the size of Los Angeles and Chicago combined.

"They'll believe she's from the jungle until they figure out she has that type of humor," women's golf coach Julie Garner says. "She's a very proud Brazilian."

Teixeira has carried that pride for Brazil into her many opportunities to represent her home country in international events. She competed in the Women's World Amateur Team Championship from September 3-6 in Karuizawa, Japan, and also played for Brazil in Turkey two years ago.

"I used to get a lot of pressure," Teixeira says. "I'm representing my home country. It's a lot to take on, but I've gotten used to it. Golf can be frustrating at times. We're not always playing great. I'm worried about scoring and placement. I appreciate going to different countries and enjoy the journey and not getting too caught up on golf. It's been very special."

Her international play comes despite what she calls a lack of natural talent and a late start in the sport. Teixeira began playing on weekends about the age of 12-Tiger Woods had already appeared on Good Morning America at eight years old-after her father picked up the sport.

Because her father wasn't sure if she'd be interested in playing golf, Teixeira split a set of clubs with her younger sister, Vitoria, a sophomore who competes at the University of Delaware. They soon went from practicing on weekends to every day after school. Their improvement led to new clubs.

But becoming a golf star in Rio de Janeiro who can earn a scholarship in the United States isn't easy.

"There are only two golf courses in the whole city, and one of them is a nine-hole course, if you can imagine that," Teixeira says. "In Orlando, in a two-mile radius, you probably get four courses. We always had to have someone fly from the States with clubs and balls. You can't get them at all.

"When I talk about golf back home, people ask me what it is. People just don't know about it. I don't want to say underground, but it's a very small community. I pretty much know everyone that plays golf in Brazil. The same people play together."

She became good enough to compete throughout Brazil and, eventually, in international competitions in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. Teixeira moved to the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, for her senior year of high school. She chose Rollins after considering Ohio State, Texas A&M, and others.

Teixeira has competed in 27 tournaments for the Tars and has posted a stroke average of about 78. She established a career-low round of 72 in the Nova Southeastern Shark Invitational and the Peggy Kirk Bell Invitational in her freshman and sophomore seasons, respectively.

Garner believes Teixeira's international competition has helped her collegiate career.

"It's pretty cool when you put a shirt on with the flag of your country. She takes a lot of satisfaction from putting that shirt on and competing."

"It helps her as a player, as a competitor," Garner says. "It's pretty cool when you put a shirt on with the flag of your country. She takes a lot of satisfaction from putting that shirt on and competing."

Teixeira plans to graduate a semester early in December-"They must be pretty smart in the jungle of Brazil," Garner says, jokingly-with a double major in economics and international relations. Although she'll miss the Tars' postseason play in the spring semester, she's ready for her post-graduate pursuits.

But she'll miss the camaraderie of playing as a member of a team in what is largely an individual sport. Teixeira has lived with a teammate the past three years and hosts many team functions.

"It's sweet and bitter," Teixeira says. "There are lots of opportunities for me when I finish. I'm excited for that. But I think when I get done, I'm going to realize how much I miss this place. It's something I'll never have again after I leave Rollins."

To learn more about athletics at Rollins College, visit RollinsSports.com.