Page 100 - South Mississippi Living - April, 2018

SPORTS & OUTDOORS driven
Standout Golfer
Coaching Girls Golf at
story by Kelsey Sunderman-Foster photo courtesy of St. Patrick Catholic High School
The St. Patrick Catholic High School (SPCHS) Fighting Irish have a new team member. Meet Diana Punzo, the girls golf coach.
golfer since the age of 13, Punzo has years of experience on her side. She qualified to play on the high
school varsity girls golf team for Goddard High School in Roswell, New Mexico, as an eighth grader and played five years of high school varsity golf, including five District 4-AAAA and State AAAA Championship team wins.
What sets Punzo apart is her drive to see the team succeed. “There
are plenty of reasons why I was
interested in the position, but the main reason was because I didn’t want to see the girls without a coach,” Punzo said. “I got a call from a good friend who told me their coach had health issues and would be out for the rest of their season. My heart sank for the girls. To be without a coach when you are working at a possible golf scholarship is devastating.”
Thinking back on her own life, she realized how crucial high school golf was in helping her attain a scholarship to Arkansas
State University.
“Even if the girls don’t have the same goal, I still want to promote the game of golf in a positive way so they can enjoy it and have fun,” Punzo said. “Golf is a great sport. It’s hard, but it teaches discipline, patience, humility, self-control, endurance, and even leadership.”
According to SPCHS athletic director Eddie Burger, the school was looking for a coach who not only played collegiate golf, but was actively involved in the Coast’s golf community. “Diana met all the criteria and will be a great addition
to our staff,” Burger said. “I believe the players will
relate well to Diana and will resonate with her teaching. I expect to
see improvements in all facets of
the game —from the players’ understanding of rules and
etiquette to ball striking and course
management. I firmly believe Diana
will do a fantastic job and expect to see
tremendous growth in our girls golf program.”
Grace McLoughlin, Diana Punzo, Isabell Alexandar and Andrea Huguenin.
100 SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living • April 2018
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St. Patrick Catholic High School
228.702.0500 www.stpatrickhighschool.net
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