Southmont’s Bailey Thompson recently committed to continue her golf career at St. Mary-of-the-Woods in Terre Haute this coming fall.
Thompson was surrounded by friends and family last week at the Crawfordsville Country Club to recognize the moment.
“I want to thank my coaches for always pushing me to be my best and coach Higham for giving me an opportunity to play with him,” Thompson said. “And my team, they’re the best. And my grandparents, and especially my parents.”
Thompson helped the Mounties to their first IHSAA Sectional title in school history last fall by claiming co-medalist honors with an 87. But it wasn’t until she popped off a front-nine round of 38 at Smock Golf Course during the regional that she realized college golf might be in her future.
“The biggest one was at the regional,” she said. “After the first nine I shot a 38 and I was playing with Annabelle Pancake (Zionsville), who is committed to Clemson, and Jocelyn Bruch (2018 state champion from Westfield), who is committed to Purdue, and their parents were asking my parents where I was committed to and they were like ‘oh I don’t think she’s going to play in college.’”
Even with the opportunity to play at the next level, Thompson put all the weight in college choice based on academics.
“I didn’t really consider golf, I just looked at the schools and saw where I could get a better education,” she said. “and I think I could do better in a small classroom setting. It was just a bonus that I get to play golf, and have the opportunity to play with a scholarship.”
Thompson is excited to travel and play new courses, but understands the challenges that lie ahead.
“Probably the yardage difference,” she said of the biggest difference from high school to college. “It’s a lot longer than high school. Usually I’m 100-130 yards from the green off my drive, and now I’m 150+. So just working on my long woods and hopefully improving my drive, and obviously chipping and putting, you can always get better at those.”
The Pomeroys belong to the United States Collegiate Athletic Association.
