Penn State announced Denise St. Pierre’s retirement from the Women’s Golf Team today, after 31 years. St. Pierre added a final and monumental accomplishment to her resume on Sunday. She was crowned national champion.
Penn State, in Maricopa Arizona, won the first National Golf Invitational ever on May 14, by holding off an Iowa charge over the final stretch. St. Pierre’s masterclass on knowing your players began, arguably, in August.
St. Pierre did not want to have her team hear it from others that this was her last year of coaching. So she told them herself. St. Pierre punctuated her announcement by asking that no one dwell on the farewell season. No one would celebrate the last of anything or anyone.
St. Pierre believes that it’s possible that her retirement inspired her team to achieve their goals at the NGI. But, she thinks that more likely, they had their own personal goals. Penn State placed 12th in the Big 10 Conference Championship, and missed qualifying as a team for regionals.
St. Pierre kept the NGI secret until after the season was over, because she wanted her players to strive for what they have always wanted since the beginning: a NCAA berth.
What if they wanted to extend their season by using the NGI? St. Pierre: “I cannot tell you what this means, especially to my players that are leaving.”
St. Pierre, who is a morning planner and an early riser on tournament days did it again before the final round of Sunday. Penn State led Santa Clara by five shots with 18 holes left.
St. Pierre replied, “I am always thinking about what they need right now.” St. Pierre said, “I kept hearing in my mind, ‘Nothing else, Denise’.”
St. Pierre, who started the day in 3rd place, was conscious of not changing her tactics because the stakes were higher. She remained the same with her players as she had been throughout the season. St. Pierre admits that she feels her insides churning sometimes.
Drew Nienhaus, who had driven it into the bunker at the par-5 16th hole and then hit her birdie approach from 6 feet away, widened the Penn State lead a bit more. Isha Dhruva then made a birdie at the par-3 17. Michelle Cox made eagle on the par-5 16, where she drilled her second to 8 feet.
St. Pierre, who has been in the game for nearly 40 years, knows how to communicate with each player.
She said, “I think they all handle things differently.” You have to be able to read your players in order to know what to say to them.
Penn State scored the highest team score of Sunday with a 5-over final round. The Nittany Lions ended the week with a score of 15 over, while Iowa finished at 25 over. Mercer finished third, another shot behind.
Dhruva noticed that many coaches are serious about golf. They give yardages, then back off.
She said, “Coach makes us laugh and smile.” “I can make jokes if she’s on the tee-box, whether I’ve had a good or bad hole in the past. That’s what I really appreciate about a coach.”
St. Pierre, despite her jokes, admitted that she had not experienced much similar to this in her career. She felt that she sometimes had to control herself just as much her players did.
Megan Menzel is the head women’s basketball coach at Iowa. She said that a pairing with St. Pierre was important. She said that St. Pierre teams have always played short, sharp games with a lot of heart.
Menzel stated, “She brings so many things to our coaching group.” Menzel said: “She brings so much to our coaching group.” . . . She walks the golf course, expecting them to compete. “I’ve always admired you.”
Menzel said that her team’s performance in the final stretch was crucial to the Nittany Lions losing. She also believes this experience will be invaluable for the young squad. Hawkeyes only made it to the postseason once before this week, in 1990 when they won the conference championship and earned an automatic qualification spot.
Menzel stated, “I believe there are a lot really good teams who get left out at regionals. I think this is an incredible opportunity for us to showcase these strong teams and players.”
Shannyn Vogler, a freshman from Iowa, will win the first NGI individual championship after 54 holes at a total of 5-under. Vogler shot a 3-under-par front nine, and jumped Penn State’s Cox after Cox made a triple-bogey at the last hole.
Dhruva cannot recall a time she laughed more with a group than this week, at Ak-Chin Southern Dunes. She is one of three Penn State seniors who are leaving alongside St. Pierre. She will never forget watching Sarah Willis, a fellow senior, putt on the 18th fairway.
Dhruva, her teammates, and St. Pierre joke that they are “her last team and favorite.” She said it was special to have such a bond with St. Pierre.
She’s nurtured us more than just as golfers – she’s helped us become better students and people. I couldn’t have asked for a better guide to help me through my college career.
By: Julie Williams
Title: Denise St. Pierre leaves Penn State with a championship after her players deliver down the stretch at inaugural NGI
Sourced From: golfweek.usatoday.com/2023/05/15/ngi-college-golf-denise-st-pierre-penn-state/
Published Date: Mon, 15 May 2023 12:49:15 +0000
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