photos by Christopher Squier

Senior Caroline Collins tees off in her final Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference tournament
April 16-17 at the Christmas Lake Golf Course in Santa Claus, Ind.

The Point Park women’s golf team bid farewell to five seniors after a fourth-place finish at the Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (KIAC) tournament.

“This was the first real class I brought in,” said head coach Gabe Bubon. “We truly started from scratch. The girls graduating set the foundation. They helped turn the program into a pretty solid program.”

Point Park’s women’s golf team was established five years ago, and it was the current senior class that paved the way for success.

“I’ll be honest, I didn’t know how it was going to be when I got here,” said senior Chloe Callison. “After the first practice, I realized we really were the core of the team. It was fun to be the ones to set the standard here.”

Though the current seniors paved the way for the program, it was not an easy start.

“It has been a roller coaster ride,” said senior Caroline Collins. “I came out of high school playing the women’s tees, but in college, we play the men’s tees. At first, I went downhill. It was a huge adjustment. It took until my junior year to feel comfortable on the course.”

For a new program to succeed, the players have to be dedicated to both the game and each other. This Pioneer team did just that.

“We, as a team, have such a strong bond,” Collins said. “Five of us came in together as freshmen and now, we’re graduating as seniors. All five of us are extremely different, but it worked. We never got on each other. As golfers, we supported each other and really felt for each other when someone struggled.”

This bond is something the seniors made sure to focus on and pass down to the younger talent. For this team, unity is a central value.

“The seniors took the roles of being leaders,” Collins said. “We decided on what shirt color to wear for each match. We initiated team dinners. We made sure to hang out outside of golf. We helped the coach get the younger girls involved.”

This senior leadership worked wonders and made freshman Alena Lancia feel right at home.

“The seniors took me under their wing,” Lancia said. “Chloe and Caroline are like my moms. I couldn’t have asked for a better team.”

The KIAC tournament took place April 16-17 at the Christmas Lake Golf Course in Santa Claus, Ind., and it was the final collegiate tournament for the five seniors.

Point Park placed fourth at the tournament out of five teams with a score of 726. Brescia University (Ky.) won the tournament and the automatic bid to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) tournament with a team score of 657.

Collins posted the best individual score for Point Park with a final total of 167, which was a tie for fifth overall in individual scores at the tournament. This score earned Collins a spot on the All-KIAC team.

“I felt like everything came full circle,” Collins said. “I was calm, confident and comfortable with my swing. I was just in the moment, and I enjoyed my final tournament.”

Bubon could not have been happier with the way Collins ended her career, and he even made sure to walk the final three holes with her.

“She was my No. 1 from the day she walked in,” Bubon said. “She’s a workaholic. I don’t think she sleeps. She’s definitely improved, and she never complained about anything.”

Lancia posted the second best score for Point Park in her first ever KIAC tournament with a score of 175.

“I knew I could play at that level,” Lancia said. “But there is always room for improvement. I knew the first day I shot high, and I told coach I would shoot an 85 the next day. It’s funny because I went out and ended up doing it.”

Along with Collins and Callison, seniors Lauren Martauz, Rilyn Gancia and Emily Slifka ended their careers at the tournament.

“It was bittersweet,” Callison said. “Coach walked with us on the last six holes. We were the first group to go, and we played really fast, so I got to see everyone as they came in and cheer on the fellow seniors.”

This tournament marks the end of an era, but to Bubon, the sky is the limit for these athletes.

“They will go on to be very successful in life,” Bubon said. “They’re all go-getters. They did their jobs, and as a coach, that’s all you can ask for.”

As for the future of the women’s golf program, Lancia believes the team will excel.

“We’re redefining the program next year,” Lancia said. “We have a different competitive edge. We’re going to win. We have a solid team that honestly could do some work next year.”