Emily Waldrop '23 Recruiting Profile

I started playing golf only a few years ago with weekly Spring and Fall clinics to learn the basics in 7^th and 8^th grade and instantly loved it!  In the Fall of 2019 (9th grade), I made the decision to focus exclusively on golf, working one on one with my swing coach for the months leading into tryouts for my HS team.  The hard work paid off and I joined the Varsity team my Freshman year.  My first tournament was my first time playing more than 9 holes and I finished in the top 25 out of 50 girls.  I was hooked! Unfortunately, the season was cut short due to Covid, but I continued to work over the next year, playing throughout the Summer and Fall, even volunteering as a coach working with the girls at my home course’s golf camp, and made the Varsity team again my sophomore year.  

During the 2020-2021 season, my scores started off between 110 and 115, but I improved as I had more tournament experience, now averaging between 90 and 95.  Our team finished 1^st in the 5A sectionals and 4^th at the State Championship.  I’ve continued to work at my game through the GSGA summer and fall tournament series, finishing 3^rd in my last several tournaments. 

With my HS team’s top player graduating in 2021, my goal is to get my game into the mid to low 80s knowing that I will need to step up as one of two leaders on our Varsity team. I plan to take this same work ethic into my senior year and into college, where I hope to continue to play and contribute to the growth and success of whichever team I play for.  I like the balance between academics and athletics in Division III programs, so I’ve focused my college search efforts on D3 schools that have women‘s golf and also my preferred degree(s).

When it comes to selecting a college, my dream since I was 6 years old was to be an architect, so  my preference is for schools with Architecture or Civil Engineering degree programs. If I do Civil Engineering, I will pursue a Masters in Architecture.