Women’s golfer shares story leading to success 

By Kaleel Stewart

Staff Writer

Junior Sara Blake Coley said she knew the moment she stepped onto the course in high school that golf was more than a hobby for her. Golf was her future. 

Coley had the best single golf round in her career on Sept. 9 as a member of the golf team at Trevecca. 

“I went to a small high school centered around football,” said Coley. “The golf team was very small; it was more of just people who wanted something to do in the afternoons and thought golf was a little bit interesting.” 

Coley, who is from Milan, Tennessee, said she spent many fall, winter, and spring breaks throughout her childhood on golf courses alongside her grandparents, and by her sixth-grade year of school, she played golf competitively. 

Coley said her inspiration and encouragement come from her father, but especially her grandfather, who passed away when she was eight years old. 

“…He’s no longer here, but I know that he’s watching me, so I’m inspired to do better by just trying to make him proud,” said Coley.

Coley said her high school coaches and now college coaches have also encouraged her. 

“They always built me up and told me that I needed to pursue this because I have such a natural ability in the way I carry myself on the golf course,” said Coley. “Coach Head is literally the best, I love him so much, and I love T dog (Tracy) as well.” 

Coley’s golf coach, David Head, said Coley’s golf accuracy and distance combined is something that makes her stand out across the board in women’s college golf. 

“…hitting greens, regulation, and driving the golf ball far are her strengths, and as long as she does that well, she’s going to put herself in a position to be successful on the golf course,” said Head. 

One of the challenges Coley said she faces in her golf career is mastering the mental aspect of the game. She said she learned early on that it is good to keep calm on the course and to take one shot at a time. 

“I think one of the biggest things that have changed the trajectory of my ability to play in tournaments is focusing more when we… have short game only type practices… and I feel like ever since I’ve been focused more during those practices and really working to carry that out onto the golf course, I have seen a tremendous amount of change in the way that I play and the way that I carry myself,” said Coley. 

Being at a Christian university has also impacted Coley’s golf career.

“I try to have a moment with God before every tournament,” said Coley. “I feel like I can thank God and my faith in Him for keeping a positive attitude, and that goes a long way whenever you’re already struggling mentally.” 

Coley said her golf career highlights include going to state her senior year of high school, where she placed eighth out of 40 girls and made the All-State team, and then scoring her career best this September at the Full Moon BBQ Invitational in Montevallo, Alabama. 

Furthermore, Coley said she is thankful for the places golf has allowed her to go and see as well as the friendships she has made at Trevecca. 

“Our team is super close,” said Coley. “Our coaches are like our parents… they care for us more than I’ve ever seen a coach care for their team, so that’s a huge highlight.” 

Audrey Reese, a friend and teammate of Coley, said Coley is a great role model and does a great job of setting the path for teammates who are younger. 

“She is vibrant… full of joy,” said Reese. “She always can have a good time and makes you feel better, so she kind of just brings energy to the team or just as a friendship as a whole.” 

Reese said she also values Coley’s mindset on the course, and she admires the way Coley keeps her composure in tough situations while playing. 

Looking forward, Head said he wants to continue to build upon Coley’s success as well as the success of the team as a whole. He said he wants to see Coley in a position of eligibility for a spot in the NCAA Regionals as well as the National Championship. 

“One of the things we talk about is let’s be better today than we were yesterday. Let’s put one foot in front of the other, and a month from now, we’ve taken 30 steps down the road,” said Head. “So if we do the work now, and she does the work now… then come April, when it’s time to go, she’ll be in a position where she can accomplish those goals for herself and the goals that we have for her.” 

Coley, who has one more tournament this semester and five in the spring, said her goal is to continue doing what she has been doing and to make it to the next tournament.