Women’s golf to become a varsity sport at this Philadelphia university — LSU star leads the way at Q-School Stage II — Must-click women’s golf links
By Addie Parker
The IX: Golf Thursday with Addie Parker, Oct. 19, 2023
Happy Golf Thursday! The women’s collegiate golf scope just got a little bit bigger. On Monday, Philadelphia’s Saint Joseph’s University announced that women’s golf would now be a major sport for the school, with participation starting in the fall of 2024.
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Saint Joseph’s University Vice President and Director of Athletics Jill Bodensteiner made the announcement. “We are extremely excited to announce the addition of one of the most popular sports for high school girls and college women with the addition of women’s golf,” Bodensteiner said. “During my time on Hawk Hill, I have had more inquiries about starting a women’s golf program than any other sport. I am delighted to offer additional participation opportunities for female student-athletes to receive a Jesuit education at this great institution. Our University leadership – particularly President McConnell – has been critical in making this vision a reality.”
Saint Joseph’s officials indicated the search for a head coach will begin soon and that the women’s team will need placement in a conference — the university competes in the Atlantic 10 in all other sports.
Over the last three years, we have seen exponential growth within women’s golf. Since 2020, the female golfer pool jumped 15% compared to a 2% lift among male golfers. The visibility for women’s golf has never been greater, and the LPGA is working extensively to grow the veil of the game. From more junior golf programming targeted toward young girls to launching an affordable golf equipment collection with Walmart, the LPGA is doing the work to continue this trend in a continuous positive direction.
This is a developing story that I will have on our Golf Thursday radar over the next year or so. As the team builds a coaching staff, a new recruiting class, there’s much to unpack as this plays out. Which leads me to beg the question: how many more small colleges and universities will follow suit by adding a women’s golf program?
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This week in women’s golf
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Five at The IX: Quick quotes from LSU’s Ingrid Lindblad
Q. Coming in as an amateur, what would it mean to turn pro?
INGRID LINDBLAD: I’m probably staying an amateur for the whole school year, but I’m excited, and I’m here to get a spot for the summer to play, so I’m excited.
Q. How does it feel to be at the top of the leaderboard with all these professionals and great amateurs here?
INGRID LINDBLAD: You know, I mean, it’s not as easy as it looks sometimes. You don’t always see how you play on the scorecard, but I drained two long putts, one for eagle, so that was a bonus. I had like a six-footer on 9 for eagle that I didn’t make, and then I made like a 37-footer on 13.
I’m like, I feel like should have been the opposite, but still just trying to keep the ball on the fairway, in play, hit the green, and try to make some putts.
Q. What do you think the best part of your game is that is really helping you score so well this week?
INGRID LINDBLAD: Probably my wedges. I’ve hit good wedges both days. Yesterday I had some really bad lies in the rough and literally just chipped in and out fairway and made up and down with a wedge.
So probably wedges, and I’ve made few putts, but feel like I can make more putts.
Q. You are going back to LSU next year, correct?
INGRID LINDBLAD: Yeah, I am.
Q. What does this advantage give you going into your graduate year at LSU when you’re playing so well right now?
INGRID LINDBLAD: I mean, it’s really fun, and I feel like the work I’ve put in not just like in the last year, but like in my entire life, it pays off. It’s fun that it works on a week like this.
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