The LSU women’s golf team has been through natural roster turnover the last decade because of graduations and transfers, but one thing has remained constant — the team represents other countries aside from the United States.
Dating back to the 1998-99 season, the LSU women’s golf team has had at least one foreign player on its team.
Senior Jacqueline Hedwall and freshman Madelene Sagstrom, who both hail from Sweden, comprise the worldwide contingent of the LSU women’s golf team this season.
Coach Karen Bahnsen said recruiting international players is more necessity than novelty.
“Golf has grown so much that it’s very worldwide, and honestly you have to recruit the world or else you’re going to get beat,” Bahnsen said. “All the best players aren’t just in the United States. I always want to have a good balance of international players as well as American tremendously.”
The gameday experience was unique for Sagstrom.
“That was totally amazing,” Sagstrom said. “I’ve never seen anything like it. My mom was so impressed with everything, it was great to see competitive.”
When it comes down to picking which state in which to go to school, Bahnsen said there’s something about Louisiana that rings true for Europeans.
“They feel very comfortable here, and they just fit in with our culture for some reason — I can’t explain why,” Bahnsen said. “They fit in very well