Winthrop Golfer keeps eye on ball, wins first Big South award

By Chris McFadden

She was a multiple-sport player as a youngster, but all other sports took a back seat to the game that would eventually lead to her playing on the collegiate level.

“I played basketball, soccer and tennis, but I started playing golf, and that became my passion,” senior Rachel Smith said.

Smith, a business administration major, began playing golf at the tender age of 10 after her father introduced her to the sport.    

That passion for sports eventually led Smith to becoming a member of the Winthrop golf team, where she was recently named Big South Conference Golfer of the Week.

“It was incredible. I was absolutely stunned beyond belief,” Smith said of being presented with the award. “No words could describe the happiness I was feeling when I heard the news.”

Her first place finish helped the women’s golf team to a third place finish behind winner Xavier and Belmont Abbey College in the Winthrop University Intercollegiate Tournament.

Smith won the event by five strokes.

Smith attributes growth in her game as the main reason for her success this season.

“Maturity. I’ve always known how to swing the club, but now I’ve really learned how to play the game,” she said.

Smith also thinks all the sweat and hard work helped her become a better player.

“It’s really fun to watch the hard work pay off,” she said.

And Smith wasn’t the only one who was happy about her award.

“The team was incredibly excited and supportive when the Golfer of the Week award was announced,” she said.

Smith and her teammates hope to keep the momentum of their recent success going for the rest of the season.

“Our goal is simple, to make the best showing we can at the Big South Conference tournament at the end of the year,” she said.

A lot of athletes today try to pattern their game after certain players. Smith, however, thinks it’s better to try and make your own mark on the game.

“I’ve never really compared myself to anybody else because golf is so unique,” she said. “We’ve always heard that no two fingerprints are alike. The same holds true for golf. No two golfers are alike either.”

The hard work and dedication that allowed Smith to be presented with the Golfer of the Week award is something she wants to be known for when her collegiate career comes to an end.

“I want to be remembered as the girl who was always the first to practice and the last to leave,” Smith said. “I want to be known as the person who never gave up and always tried to maintain a positive point of view on golf and life.”