Chelsea Carroll Leads SMCC Women’s Golf into New Era

The South Mountain Community College women's golf team has started its 2020 spring season under the direction of new head coach Chelsea Carroll.

A former assistant coach at Rogers State University and an assistant teaching professional at Troon North Golf Club in Scottsdale, Carroll hopes to establish Cougar women's golf as a destination for student-athletes looking to compete and aspire to NCAA Division I and II programs.

"I have a passion for helping women compete in intercollegiate athletics. One thing that drove me was the chance to restore the program and build it to a competitive level where four-year programs want to recruit our student-athletes. We are also excited to have former professional golfer Whitney Hickman join us as an assistant coach to help restore the program with the talents she brings," said Carroll.

A four-year member of the women's golf team at Rogers State and 2016 graduate in Sports and Business Management, Carroll has also spent time on the fitness side of golf and also worked as a personal trainer for golfers. She spent the 2016-17 season at her alma mater as an assistant coach for both the men's and women's programs.

Carroll started in the fall of 2019, but quickly found herself one player short of fielding an official squad.

Salvation came in the form of sophomore Victoria Negrete, who also is a member of the Cougar women's soccer team. 

"Victoria joined us right before the season started, and that was a big boost. She is very athletic and allows us to compete and develop as the season progresses," Carroll added.

As with the newest member of the squad, Carroll was a late bloomer to the game of golf. She had her sights set on volleyball, but things didn't work out, and she needed somewhere to compete. Her father introduced her to the basics, and hard work paved the way for a career in the sport.

"One of the big things I am working towards is getting my PGA certification. Getting classified as a PGA professional is something I am working hard to accomplish, and it would add to the little victories the program has been accumulating since I arrived," Carroll said.

The team already has one tournament under their belt.

The Cougars competed in the Chandler-Gilbert Invitational at Las Colinas Golf Course on Feb. 8 and Feb. 9. SMCC finished the event at a 297-over 865 for the two-day event, and sophomore Tate Isaacson led the squad with a tie for eighth individually.

South Mountain Community College posted a 27-shot improvement on the second day of the tournament, totaling a 419 between the four Cougars competing at the event. Isaacson cut four strokes off her first-day score to finish at a 46-over 188.

Cassidy Martinez posted the largest improvement from round one to round two, shaving 18 strokes off her score on the second day. She finished tied for 19th at the event. Victoria Negrete shaved 10 strokes off her second day total, tying with Martinez for 19th. 

The fourth Cougar to compete was Miriam Verdugo. A strong first day helped her post a 17th-place finish at the event.

Carroll and the team return to action on Feb. 23 when they compete at Dobson Ranch Golf Club in an event hosted by Mesa Community College.