Young golfer USA bound
Eighteen-year-old Caitlin Maurice of the Ōmokoroa Golf Club has been awarded a full scholastic and athletic scholarship to the Sacramento State University in Northern California commencing in late August. Caitlin is an exceptional golfer having gained as low as a plus 3 handicap and has achieved a high academic standard after attending both Ōmokoroa Point School and Tauranga Girls College.
Caitlin was introduced to golf at a young age as her father was the Ōmokoroa Golf Club Manager and from her very first swing the bug was caught and the love of the game began. It was with her father’s initial coaching and family guidance alongside participation most Saturdays with the Women’s Golf Group, Caitlin’s abilities developed.
To be on a plus 3 handicap Caitlin is not only a wonderfully gifted athlete she also has an inner strength of character and temperament to undertake the many thousands of hours of practice. Dedication, discipline and perseverance with golf are the hallmarks to her incredible achievements today.
On offering Caitlin a full scholarship, Sacramento State's head golf coach stated how impressed he was with Caitlin’s deep resume of high-level golf which over 2020/21 features a number of tournament successes. Caitlin has had three top-five finishes, including a win at The Pegasus Open and was also second at the North Island Stroke Play and was fourth at the New Zealand U-19.
Sacramento State University is one of the most beautiful State campuses in California being declared the ‘University Tree Campus, USA’. The University is situated on 305 acres and has 30,000 enrolled students. In Caitlin’s first year she will live in a dormitory with other golfing students from America, New Zealand, Argentina, Sweden and Hawaii. The golf team plays in the top echelon of Division One competition.
As well as her academic studies Caitlin will be fully involved in golf practice each day and will travel to competitions around the country. A new, wonderful, exciting and busy, busy life is ahead for Caitlin.
Ōmokoroa Golf Club is extremely proud to be part of Caitlin’s early development and we wish her well and every success in the USA. We look forward to following her achievements on the world stage.
For any young person wishing to learn golf contact the Golf Club Office for information on the Thursday Junior programme.