Jul 31, 2018
He was the reason why it was so hard, and not because I knew he’d be mad, but just because I knew it would be heartbreaking in a sense, for him. - Emma Smyser
Emma began playing golf competitively before beginning kindergarten, learning the game through play at three and four years old with her father on the course adjacent to their home in Indiana. She competed in middle and high school tournaments throughout Indiana and the country, placing second in the Indiana State Championship before going on to compete collegiately with the University of Florida for one year, transferring to Florida Gulf Coast University, and ultimately deciding to end her career to pursue rigorous studies in nursing. Emma and Kathy discuss the importance of quality time spent with her parents as an athlete, the enjoyment of the sport as a paramount to continuing in her athletic career, and ultimately choosing to pursue a course of study, and a passion, away from athletics. Emma is now an EMT and is thrilled to be focused on pursuing her degree.