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.
Continue reading with a subscription to The IX
Get unlimited access to our exclusive coverage of a varitety of women’s sports, including our premium newsletter by subscribing today!
Already a member?
Login
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?
This week in women’s golf
If you have links you wish to share for Golf Thursday, sources for golf news, or want to talk about anything at all, you can email me at addieparker25@gmail.com ! Discussion of any kind is always welcome…I mean it…MESSAGE ME!
LPGA News
The. LPGA continues its Asian swing in Korea this week at the BMW Championship. Round one is complete and here’s everything you need to know
- Ashleigh Buhai shoots 62 en route to 18-Hole lead at the BMW Ladies Championship
- How to Watch the 2023 BMW Ladies Championship
- The ultimate driving machine will win the BMW Ladies Championship
- bmw-ladies-championship Tournament Preview Tournament News
- Featured Groups: BMW Ladies Championship
- Field Breakdown: BMW Ladies Championship
- Five things to know about the BMW Ladies Championship
- LPGA Tour returns to Republic of Korea in celebration of game’s growth
WATCH: LPGA All Access Episode 9, all things Solheim
Lilia Vu, Joel Dahmen become latest to team up for Grant Thornton Invitational
Bradenton Country Club to host 2024 LPGA Drive On Championship
Making Moves: Angel Yin climbs to highest World Ranking in career
The LPGA launches a ‘Member for a Day Program’!!!
Lexi Thompson cards second-round 69, nearly makes cut at Shriners Children’s Open
LET News
Hero Women’s Indian Open Leaderboard
Local amateur is off to a good start at the Ladies Indian Open
Epson Tour News
Ingrid Lindblad lunges up leaderboard early at Stage II
No. 1 ranked amateur leads Stage II after two rounds
Gabriela Ruffels named 2023 POTY
Natasha Andrea Oon earns 2023 Gaelle Truet ROTY honors
NCAA/Amateur News
With a pair of freshmen leading the way, Texas women’s golf team is circling the waters again
Want women’s hockey content? Subscribe to The Ice Garden!
Here at The IX, we’re collaborating with The Ice Garden to bring you Hockey Friday. And if you want the women’s hockey goodness 24/7? Well, you should subscribe to The Ice Garden now!
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.
| Mondays: Soccer |
| By: Annie Peterson, @AnnieMPeterson, AP Women’s Soccer |
| Tuesdays: Tennis |
| By: Joey Dillon, @JoeyDillon, Freelance Tennis Writer |
| Wednesdays: Basketball |
| By: Howard Megdal, @HowardMegdal, The Next |
| Thursdays: Golf |
| By: Marin Dremock, @MDremock, The IX |
| Fridays: Hockey |
| By: @TheIceGarden, The Ice Garden |
| Saturdays: Gymnastics |
| By: Lela Moore, @runlelarun, Freelance Writer |
