While some of the world’s best golfers were competing in Rio, Idaho’s very own Sophie Hausmann took a different route.
The German native returned home and spent the first weekend in August competing in the German International Ladies Amateur Golf Championship. The competition featured some of Europe’s brightest young golfers with athletes from France, Denmark, the Netherlands, Finland, Switzerland, Russia, Italy, Belgium and Iceland.
The three-day tournament concluded victoriously for Hausmann with a total score of 286, just one under her closest competition. The tournament consisted of four rounds, three of which Hausmann won.
It wasn’t until the final round that she slipped up with a score of 73. Marie Lunackova of Czechoslovakia and Maike Schlender of Germany gained ground in round four, scoring 71 apiece. However, Hausmann’s strong performance in rounds one through three were enough to keep her afloat and garner a victory.
As a true freshman, Hausmann delivered the winning stroke during the Big Sky championship and was a selection for the all-Big Sky Conference team.
Hausmann began playing golf at a very early age and continued to compete all through high school, playing in numerous tournaments and national competitions.
“When I was between 3 and 4 years old, I hit my first balls together with my parents who already played golf for several years,” said Hausmann.
From there, Hausmann decided to take her talents to Moscow, Idaho. It was her strong relationship with head coach Lisa Johnson that pulled her to the university. Hausmann recalls one particular moment that only strengthened their bond.
“It was one of my first college tournaments and coach Lisa watched me and analyzed with me my game after the rounds,” Hausmann said.
“I was angry about some shots while 36 holes, but she just said, it is usual that I am making some bad shots within 36 holes, but what’s important is how I react after these shots. And that is the difference between a good and a really good player,” Hausmann enters her second season with the Vandals this Sep. Both she and fellow sophomore Michelle Kim will lead the way for Idaho’s young talent. Kim was named the 2015 Big Sky Freshman of the Year and tied for third at the Pat Lesser Harbottle Invitational.
Coach Johnson is both proud of what her team has accomplished and excited for the upcoming season.
“This year’s team continues to impress,” Johnson said. “They are highly driven and give 100 percent both on the course and in the classroom. To achieve at such a high level is a tremendous accomplishment and we are very proud.”
Idaho begins its season Sept. 19 versus Washington State in Pullman.
Brandon Hill can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @brandonmtnhill