The Sophomore Surge: Donovan Leaving Legacy for Piedmont Women’s Golf

DEMOREST, Ga. - Just two years into her career, and Erin Donovan is already the most accomplished the women’s golfer in Piedmont program history.

Conference Player of the Year. Conference Champion. All American. NCAA Tournament Individual Qualifier. And much, much more.

However, the journey into the game and to Piedmont for the Southaven, Mississippi was not a traditional one.

Although she was introduced to the game at an early age by her dad and grandfather, Donovan did not take to the game initially and preferred playing other sports.

Golf is a game of repetition and skill development, not one that can be dominated by pure athleticism. Due to her late start in the game, Donovan faced some adversity in tournaments despite her rapid improvement, causing her to doubt her ability to play the game at the collegiate level. 

“I had been playing in junior events with kids who were four years younger than me and they were destroying me," said Donovan. “So, I didn’t think college golf was for me. It wasn’t until my junior year that I decided I wanted to play in college, even then I wasn’t sure.”

After a slightly discouraging trip to a Nike ID camp the summer before her senior year of high school, Donovan gained clarity on what she wanted her collegiate experience to be.

Wanting to expand her horizons from her native Mississippi, Donovan set her sights on Piedmont.

Feeling a sense of place and belonging, Donovan announced her presence early in her first fall, taking fifth place out of 80 golfers in Lexington before winning outright thanks to second and third round 71’s at Rhodes for her first individual title.

All told, Donovan ended her freshman campaign five top-five finishes. She was named USA South Rookie of the Week eight times and Player of the Week four times. In the postseason, she was the conference’s Rookie of the Year and a First-Team All Conference honoree. 

Oh, and she also took third at the USA South Conference Tournament.

Oh, and she also took third at the USA South Conference Tournament.

Surely all of that was enough to warrant qualification as an individual for the NCAA Championships?

Unfortunatley, Donovan was the first player left out.

Disapppointed, but undeterred, she set her sights on leaving no doubt in her sophomore season.

Her work ethic certainly caught the eye of Piedmont Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Jim Peeples.

It was evident early in the fall that the sophomore slump was not coming for Donovan, as she tied for low medalist in Lexington before a stunning performance, even by her standards in the team’s third tournament. She shot 71-71-69 to finish -5 for the event, setting multiple Piedmont program records in the process and running away from the field in the process.

Before the 2023-24 regular season was over, she banked three more top fives including low medalist in Nashville and a t-2nd place finish against a 101 person field at Jekyll Island.

“The thing that has been most memorable for me is watching the maturity from her freshman year to this past season," said Peeples. "She allowed the disappointment of just missing a birth in the national tournament a year ago as a freshman be fuel for her improvement this year.”

After the season, she was named USA South Player of the Year in advance of the conference tournament. Now, she just needed to validate, while a win would also help her chances to gain qualification for NCAA’s.

Entering the final round in a tie at the top of the leaderboard, she left no doubt in the final round, lapping the field with a seven-shot victory.

Next, it was the excruciating waiting game for NCAA Selection. Donovan took matters into her own hands, pouring over the rankings and scenarios to try and determine herself if she was going to be selected.

However, this time, the results went in her favor.

“When I finally got the news, it was more of relief than immediate joy," said Donovan.  "Just knowing that there were people who thought I deserved to be there felt great.”

In the opening round of NCAA’s, buoyed by the arrival of her teammates to support her, Donovan hung in with a solid 2-over 74 to place in the top-15 after Round one of four.

Friday’s second round brought more adversity, this time in the form of multiple weather delays that extended her round to around 10 hours. Despite all the delays, she was able to stay positive and make the cut. She was helped out by an incredible shot, holing out a wedge from off the green during the round. “I think that shot kind of reminded me that although I wasn’t all the way there I was still competing,” she said.

With the pressure of making the cut off, Donovan carded a pair of 74’s to break 300 for the week and finish just outside the top ten, in a tie for 11th place overall.

With every shot making a big difference in placement, Donovan was able to put an exclamation point on her week with an excellent birdie at the par-4 9th hole.