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Thetford signs with Central Missouri
Seeing standout Poplar Bluff girls golfer Olivia Thetford sign her letter of intent to play at the collegiate level was a “bittersweet moment” for Lady Mules head coach Tyler Davis.
“She was one of the first golfers that I've had,” Davis said. “When I first started coaching, my first year was with the girls golf team, and she was one of my first six — so it means a lot having her finally get through the program and going off to the next level and playing golf. I'm going to be sad to see her go, but I'm glad that she's able to go and do something that she enjoys.”
Thetford will be doing what she enjoys next season at the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg, where she will join former Poplar Bluff boys golfer Lawson Barks at the four-year school.
“It just felt like the right school for me,” Thetford said. “I just really like the way that the coaches coach and the way the atmosphere is in Warrensburg. I just really like it.”
Not surprisingly, Thetford is already looking forward to playing collegiately at UCM.
“I really like it,” Thetford said. “I'm super excited. I really like the girls that are on the team and my coach. I'm super excited.”
Thetford just finished a standout high school career at Poplar Bluff, making it to the state tournament her junior and senior seasons and helping girls golf establish itself as a separate sport from the boys program that is one of the best in the state.
“Olivia has had great leadership capabilities,” Davis said. “On the team, all the other golfers look up to her and follow her lead and everything — and they try to take away from her anything that she can give to them. Also, her game was pretty impeccable. She's always out there grinding away trying to improve more of herself out there on the course.”
Thetford plans to major in marketing at UCM — and crack the starting lineup on the golf course.
“I just want to make top five,” Thetford said. “I just want to make the van, and I just want to contribute to the team as much as I can.”