PHOENIX, Md. – While rallying from an eight-stroke deficit to capture the Towson Invitational championship will always be a lasting highlight for the Towson University women's golf team; having the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others was the most memorable moment of last weekend.
Prior to its two-day tournament at Eagle's Nest Country Club, members of the Towson women's golf program spent quality time with girls from the First Tee of Baltimore program and teaching some of the basics of the sport of golf such as chipping, pitching, putting, and driving.
The clinic was part of the Athletics department's Total Tiger Program which seeks to facilitate meaningful community service opportunities for Towson student-athletes. Towson won the 2018 Helper Helper community service national championship.
The Tigers
Josephine Jung,
Erica Han,
Sarah Perine,
Julia Calomiris,
Jordan Cornelius,
Emma Cox,
Madeline Catalano,
Madison Barber and
Jayla Kang used the clinic as a great occasion to showcase their natural leadership skills and provide assistance, instruction and encouragement. Following the clinic, the Tigers answered questions, snapped lots of photos, and did a few trick shots that had the kids in awe.
"It means a lot to be able to be a part of this experience for them and be able to help the parents as well, to help them understand more about college golf, the recruiting process, and how to even get started looking at schools," said Perine, who was named Colonial Athletic Association Women's Golfer Of The Week on Sept. 18. "What's meaningful about the first tee experience to me is watching the kids experience joy whether it's making that first putt or hitting that first shot that was really good. It could change the whole game for them and make them want to play for the rest of their lives."
Towson women's golf has partnered with The First Tee for about 10 years hosting an annual clinic. The First Tee is an international youth development organization that uses the sport of golf, with its inherent traditions and values, to teach core values, healthy habits, life skills and the greatest game to kids from 5-18 years of age.
Through after school and in school programs, The First Tee helps shape the lives of young people from all walks of life by reinforcing values like integrity, respect and perseverance through the game of golf.
Within that context, and in cooperation with LPGA, they teach girls only classes in the 7-13 year range under the LPGA Girls Golf rubric, within which they schedule 14 or so golf related events per year, alongside our Towson Women's Golf Team was one of these events.
"It's always fun to interact with the First Tee kids and it's great to see how much fun they have at our clinic," Han said. "It's special to me because it's great to see how many girls are starting to play golf. When I was younger I was always playing with guys and competing against them, even in high school. It got lonely at times and I wished there were more girls in the area to play with, so it's great to see how diverse the population of golfers have gotten."
Han's impact was immediate as one of the young girls approached her during the clinic.
"She asked me questions pertaining to my major and how I balance both pre-med and golf, since those were also her life aspirations as well," Han said. "It was nice to give her some advice on things I've experienced throughout the years and let her know some mistakes I've made along the way that she could avoid as well. It's just a great teaching experience that's both fun for us and for the kids."
