For 15 consecutive years, the LSU women’s golf team has participated in a PGA Tour event.
The Lady Tigers caddy for amateur golfers at the Zurich Classic in New Orleans, while being grouped with the professional golfers.
“It is a great opportunity to go down there, being with the pros,” said LSU coach Karen Bahnsen. “We can pick their brains, and ask them questions, as well as form relationships for the future with them.”
The Lady Tigers have been paired with professional golfers along with major champions such as Phil Mickelson, Vijay Singh, Bubba Watson and Justin Rose, who won the event this weekend at 22-under par.
Bahnsen has formed close relationships financial executives of the professional event, which have given the Tigers the chance to participate in the event for more than a decade.
Fifteen years ago, the team was asked to partner with amateur golfers, granting it a time to experience how it feels to be involved in a professional tournament.
“They asked us to do this,” Bahnsen said. “The first time we ever did it, we had Jack Nicklaus. We did not know who we were going to have, and they said they were going to surprise us, and boy, did they.”
Bahnsen has become close with executives and ambassadors for the tournament. This connection gives the Lady Tigers more of an opportunity to be paired with heavily desired professional golfers, which helped give lone senior, Madelene Sagstrom, the chance of a lifetime.
Sagstrom was paired with LPGA star Lexi Thompson, who is also the first woman to be inducted as an ambassador for the tournament. Thompson links to LSU through one of her brothers Curtis Thompson, who is an LSU alumnus and currently competes on the PGA Tour.
“We told her to make sure she pick her brain because you’re going to be out there next year,” Bahnsen said. “We want you to be ready.”
Sagstrom is a graduating senior and hopes to compete in qualifying tournaments after her college career comes to an end. She is one of the most established golfers in LSU history and seeks a professional golf future.
Sagstrom will be the only non-returning Lady Tiger golfer to the event next year, and Bahnsen and company look to continue to participate in the event for years to come.
You can reach Christian Boutwell on Twitter: CBoutwell_TDR.