Q&A With Former Kennesaw State Golfer Lindsay Lundeen

Recently, I had the grand opportunity to speak with former Kennesaw State golfer Lindsay Lundeen. She has since graduated and is working in the “real world,” but let’s take a look back on her golfing career. During her high school days, Lindsay was women’s version of Tiger Woods. Before heading off to college, she was a three-time state AA champion, a three-time regional champion and was named the Atlanta Journal Constitution‘s 2010 Player of the Year.

If that doesn’t say “stud,” then I don’t know what else would.

As a player at Kennesaw State, she played in lots of big tournaments. Her best showing came in the Atlanta Sun Conference Championships, tied for 21st place.

She was nice enough to sit down for a conversation so we could get to know her as a person a little better:

Morgan: What’s the most challenging thing for you to do in your sport?

Lindsay: Learning how to control my mind. The mental aspect of Golf is one of the most difficult things when you don’t have the monetary funds to hire a psych coach. My dad taught me the game after teaching himself (no one in my family played the sport prior to me) so I had to learn to quiet my mind over important shots on my own.

M: What is your favorite Disney movie?

L: Up!

M: How about favorite candy?

L: Butterfinger! My dad used to buy me a one after school and it’s become a cherished treat.

M: What’s the best compliment you’ve ever received?

L: I am being inducted into the Greater Atlanta Christian School Hall of Fame (the school I attended from Kindergarten through senior year in high school) as well as the Gwinnett County Sports Hall of Fame. Both these awards are the greatest complement I could ever received because throughout my days of living within Gwinnett County or attending GACS, it was my biggest aspiration.

M: What was the scariest thing you’ve ever had to do? Are you glad you did it?

L: Following my husband out to Colorado for his job was pretty scary. My entire family is Georgia-bound, so being the first to move away was really difficult. I’m glad I did it, because the courses and scenery are both beautiful and I am now applying to graduate schools to follow my passion of family therapy.

M: What would you consider your greatest athletic accomplishment?

L: During a tournament in high school, I shot my lowest score of 66 (six-under par). I was playing with a friend who attended University of Georgia and we were just having the time of our lives. I lost the tournament because she shot a 63, but it felt like I was walking on air shooting that low.

M: Who is a “hero” in your life and why?

L: My husband David is my biggest hero. Not only has he chosen to be selfless in joining the Army, but he has been there for me when I’ve needed him the most. I am thankful for the blessing he has been in my life.

M: If you had $50,000 to give away, how would you do it?

L: I would divide it into two ways. The first would be to create a scholarship fund for those at my high school who are good at playing a sport but can’t afford to attend college. My junior/senior year at GACS, we couldn’t afford to stay at the school. Due to my athletic talents, I was provided with a scholarship so I could stay where I had grown so close to. The second would be to help fund therapy for children who come from broken families. So many children go through difficult circumstances but don’t have the means to learn how to express themselves correctly rather than recreating experiences from their past.

M: What’s the most difficult thing about your sport?

L: I discussed the mental side of the game earlier, but I believe it needs to be referenced again. Standing on the teebox knowing you’re leading the tournament and having to block the pressure out of your mind is the most difficult part of the game.

M: What’s most satisfying about it?

L: Getting up on the first tee of a tournament knowing you’ve done everything possible to prepare, then winning it all due to hard work.

M: What’s your favorite hobby? Why?

L: COOKING! As I was growing up, my dad was always in the kitchen cooking our family dinners. He taught me how to cook and it stuck! I love taking fresh ingredients and learning the different ways to prepare them.

M: If you didn’t come to Kennesaw State University, where would you be?

L: I’m not really sure. While being recruited, I was sure I would attend University of Florida, but the coach was let go right before I committed. However, I love the weather and scenery in Colorado (where I’m living now) so maybe in Colorado.

M: If you could be the head coach of a team for a year, what team would you choose?

L: I would love to be a coach for the Georgia/South Carolina match play team. I played on the team while in high school and had the greatest experience participating and becoming friends with players like Mariah Stackhouse (who plays for Stanford), Kathryn Fowler (who played for Ole Miss) and Yugene Lee (who played for University of Michigan).

M: What’s your favorite food?

L: My dad’s lasagna!

M: What was the best advice you’ve ever been given?

L: You can do all things through Christ. My mom always told me this before tournaments when I felt the most nervous. It always settled my fears knowing that there was someone I could turn to when the game became overwhelming.

We’d like to thank Lindsay for taking time out of her busy schedule to reflect back on her athletic career and some of her other interests!

 

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*Section Photo credit to Lindsay Lundeen and Featured Photo (above) credit to sonixgolf.com.

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