As soon as she stepped off the plane, Charleston felt like a good fit. Relaxing airport music soothed the German’s ears. When Laura Fuenfstueck stepped outside, warm sunshine and the sight of palmetto trees greeted her. This, thought the freshman, feels like holiday.
It’s a strange holiday, though, when six months pass and you’ve only made it to the beach once. But you can’t blame Fuenfstueck for staying away from the sand and water – she’s a golfer. Beyond an aversion to these hazards, Fuenfstueck has just not had time for sunbathing and swimming. She’s been too busy making a splash on the links.
The native of Frankfurt was twice named the Colonial Athletic Association’s Golfer of the Week during the fall portion of the 2013–14 golf season, when she was recognized for being the top finisher in the CSU Wendy’s Invitational and for placing second in both the JU Classic and Palmetto Intercollegiate tournaments.
So far the College has been an excellent match for the German star, and she enjoys being able to practice at a variety of Lowcountry courses, including Briar’s Creek, Kiawah Island Golf Resort, Yeamans Hall Club and the Links at Stono Ferry, where the Cougar golf program has its clubhouse and training facility. That kind of variety in practice courses is key to the success that she and her teammates expect this spring season.
“I’m really excited because the team is really good this year,” says Fuenfstueck, who also gives credit to the support of her parents, coaches and the College’s sports medicine staff. “Hard work pays off. One of our goals is to go to nationals.”
Such a goal is ambitious, but not out of reach for the Cougars, who had their best fall showing ever and were ranked 30th in the country midway through the season. Certainly the team stands a better chance of reaching nationals should Fuenfstueck keep playing so well. And women’s golf coach Jamie Futrell has no doubt that will happen.
“Laura is the best player I have coached in my 18 years at the College. She is also one of the most positive, team-oriented players that I have ever been around,” says Futrell. “When you combine her golf talent and attitude together, you have a star. She definitely has the ability to make the LPGA tour if she decides that is what she would like to do in the future.”
For now, however, Fuenfstueck considers it a stroke of luck just to be playing at the College of Charleston. It might not be holiday, exactly, but it’s certainly a great match!
Photo by Mike Ledford
