Idaho freshman golfer Sophie Hausmann took the European Junior tour by storm last year, and she is one of the latest editions to the Idaho women’s golf team.
Idaho coach Lisa Johnson found Hausmann on a recruiting website.
“I went to Europe last summer for recruiting and I watched several other golfers,” Johnson said. “I compared her scores to other players I’d seen.”
Johnson said she was impressed with Hausmann.
Hausmann graduated from Gymnasium Nottuln in Germany last spring and she competed in 
many championships in Europe, including the German Ladies Championship, the Irish Juniors and the Scottish Juniors. She also won the state girls and state ladies championships in 2013.
Hausmann said she is adjusting to Moscow well.
“It’s great,” Hausmann said. “The people are very nice and friendly. The professors are, too. It’s exciting and very fun.”
The small town feel is what won her over, Hausmann said.
“I love that I can reach everything with a bike,” she said.
Though she has gotten off to a good start at Idaho, the transition hasn’t always been that easy.
“I really miss my friends and family back home,” Hausmann said.
She said her parents approved of the move to the United States.
“They really like the city (Moscow),” Hausmann said. “It’s difficult for them, me being so far away from home, but they support me.”
Hausmann competed in the first two Idaho invites this fall.
“I was very nervous, but it was fun, and it was a very nice atmosphere,” Hausmann said.
But her nerves certainly didn’t stop her from leading Idaho at the Ptarmigan Ram Classic in September.
The Vandals traveled to the New Mexico State-hosted Price’s Give ‘Em Five Intercollegiate Monday through Wednesday in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Idaho was looking for a third title at that invite under Johnson.
“I think we have a great team, and I am very confident,” Hausmann said. “I think we will be very great.”
Johnson said she thinks Hausmann will have a solid freshman season.
“I think she’ll do very well,” Johnson said. “She’s a very strong player, and she’ll get even better when she gets more comfortable with college-level golf.”
“I’m very confident,” Hausmann said. “We are a nice team and we really like each other and that’s really important, and we all support each other. We are one team and we are very confident. I think we’ll be strong.”
Mihaela Karst can be reached at [email protected]