The Colonels women’s golf team traveled to Jacksonville, Ala., to play in the Chris Banister Gamecock Classic Sept. 9, and one golfer nearly finished in the top 10. Junior standout Theunette Van der Walt shot a final round 73, one over par, to finish in 11th place. Van der Walt said she worked hard over the summer break to increase her level of play and was pleased with her final round performance of a 73 in the tournament.
“I worked very hard at all aspects of my game over the summer and I am glad to see that the work paid off with a final round of 73; I was very excited” Van der Walt said.
Van der Walt, from South Africa, played prep golf for Noordheuwel High School in which she was a three-year letter winner and posted a stroke average of 79.
When she first came to the United States, she received a full scholarship to play golf for the University of New Orleans in 2005.
After Van der Walt attended the UNO for only two weeks, Hurricane Katrina made landfall and devastated New Orleans.
After the hurricane, UNO made the decision to send the entire women’s golf team to Thibodaux in order to take classes at Nicholls.
In what could be arguably called the most unique predicament in college sports, the University of New Orleans women’s golf players were students attending Nicholls, but competed on the links for University of New Orleans.
In the spring of 2006, UNO reopened and welcomed back the former student athletes.
Unfortunately for Van der Walt, the effects of Katrina were still being absorbed by UNO and the funding for the women’s golf program was cut. Van der Walt decided to return to Nicholls to pursue her collegiate golf career.
Van der Walt said the decision to return to Thibodaux was not difficult because she had made some close friends while attending Nicholls.
“After leaving UNO following the hurricane, I made some really good friends in Thibodaux and enjoyed my stay,” Van der Walt said. “Since I was given the opportunity to attend Nicholls previously, attending a different university was not really an option for me.”
This season, the Lady Colonels golf team comes in with prior experience under its belt. Every player returns from the 2006 team in hopes of making a better showing in this year’s conference.
The Lady Colonels golf team traveled Sept. 24-25 to Monroe, Louisiana to play in the Fred Marx Invitational at the Desaird Country Club. The course plays approximately 5,871 yards from the golds, with fairways lined with trees and greens guarded by bunkers and water. Overall the team finished in 12th place. After the first two rounds of play, Van der Walt was tied for 10th place. However, on the final round of golf Van der Walt had some troubles and slipped to 30th. The Lady Colonels will host the Lady Colonel Collegiate Invitational Tournament at the Ellendale Country Club in Houma. The event is slated to last all day on Oct. 23rd.
