Eager to prove themselves as varsity athletes, the Fort Lewis College women’s club golf team is embracing its opportunity.
Fort Lewis College announced the addition of women’s golf along with women’s indoor and outdoor track and field programs Friday. The team will compete in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.
“We had some interest in the last couple of years from some ladies on campus, and we’ve had inquiries from students interested in golf pre-enrollment,” FLC athletic director Gary Hunter said. “The interest out there is important, and adding women’s golf will help our numbers with Title IX.
“The RMAC has great men’s and women’s golf, and we are happy to be involved with both teams now.”
Jessica Thulson, a Durango High School alumna, served as the president of the FLC women’s club golf team the last few years, and she is excited to make the jump to the varsity level. Hunter said Thulson and some of the other club golfers will transition to the varsity team.
“I can’t even wait; I am so excited to play some college golf and see some other girls get the opportunity, too,” said Thulson, who will have two years of eligibility. “Our girls play decent golf. We definitely aren’t at the level of girls who have played college varsity golf the last three years, but our girls love the game, and I think they’re excited to actually get into a varsity sport.”
Thulson said the biggest perks will be gaining more practice time with a full-time coach and the addition of many more tournaments to the team’s schedule.
“It is going to be great having a coach. The best thing we’ve had is support from Hillcrest Golf Club. The pros have helped the team with some practicing,” Thulson said. “My dad, Jeff, has done most of the traveling and coaching at tournaments with us, and he has been a great asset to the team.”
FLC men’s golf head coach Bud Andersen submitted his resignation effective at the end of June, according to Hunter. Hunter said the college is conducting a national search for a new head coach, and he isn’t sure yet whether FLC will add a head coach to both the men’s and women’s teams or if one coach will lead both.
“We will probably be looking into the month of June before making an announcement on that,” Hunter said. “We haven’t discussed the finances and interest to see what we can do.”
Thulson is excited to see who the team can recruit in the coming years, and she is ready to help lead the team in its first few years.
“Being a club sport, we still played under the Skyhawk logo, but it was different. I’m excited to dive into playing at the varsity level at an intense pace,” she said. “Getting to play in the conference tournament, that is gonna be very cool.”
jlivingston@durangoherald.com
