Clutching his golf ball in his right hand and carrying his club on the left, he approaches his spot on the golf course anxiously positioning the ball atop the golf tee. Taking a step to the side and gazing far at the flag that marks his target, he envisions his perfect shot. “If you can dream it, you can do it,” says Eric Gallardo, the co-captain of the DLSU Golf Team.
Adhering to his favorite motto, Gallardo dreams of the perfect shot with every swift swing of his golf club. Hoping for the best with every shot while donning the colors of Green-and-White, this decorated golfer aims to lead the way for his team as they look to maintain their top standing in the collegiate golfing world.
The greenest pastures 
Picking De La Salle University and playing golf for the school was an easy choice for the former number two ranked Philippine junior golfer Gallardo. “It’s the best collegiate golf team in the Philippines,” acclaimed the fourth year AB-POM major. Together with co-captain Eric Bunyi, team manager Ferdie Atendido and head coach Jun Cedo, Gallardo has led the DLSU golf team into greater heights as they are now vying for a remarkable fourth straight championship in the Philippine InterCollegiate Golf Championships.
Eric attributes his success on the green to his dedicated practice routines. Routines are one of the most important elements in sports that athletes can develop to further progress their training and competitive performances. The essential value of routines is that they maximize athletes’ efforts. Routines allow athletes to be physically, technically, tactically, and mentally ready to perform at their best all the time. The art of golf is about conquering the obstacles that arise and this can be done by preparation through constant practice.
A class above the rest
Being a top-notch golfer not just for DLSU, but also amongst his peers in the collegiate ranks, Gallardo shares his own unique practice routine. “I practice hitting thousands of balls every day and training from dusk until dawn,” he shares and the dedication to improve his drive by putting up long hours of work in his golf game have paid off. He cites his short-range game, namely bunker shots, and the envied ability of performing better when under pressure as his notable strengths.
Discovering the sport at the young age of nine, he credits his uncle for his introduction to the sport that he now dearly loves. Growing up, Gallardo idolized professional golfers such as the acclaimed and influential Tiger Woods, and other top golfers such as Phil Mickelson and Ernie Els, because their skill and mastery of the game inspired him.
Wanting to improve his game and to take his play to the next stage, he now works with mentor Carlo Villaroman. They have been partners for six years now and the two work together on the technicalities of the sport and reviewing the basics of the game which should not be overlooked.
Always looking for ways to improve his game, Gallardo’s life revolves around golf, as he spends most of his time away from campus in the golf courses. The future holds bright things for this young man, especially because of the consistency he has with his practice regimes. He notes that golf will be an active part of his future even if he decides to enter the corporate world, or if he decides to stay true to his dream of becoming a top-notch professional golfer.
