By Ryan Vermont:
A little over a year since breaking ground on its new golf facility, San Jose State celebrated its completion.
“Frankly for me, a year ago, when they said it was going to be here a year ago, I was a little bit unsure about that, but we are standing here today and we’re really excited about it,” said sophomore golfer Arielle Caronna.
While not an NCAA power on the men’s or women’s side in golf, SJSU does have some major accolades in the sport.
The program is just one of 11 to have an NCAA men’s champion and women’s champion. Both teams have won championships as well, the last being the women’s team in 1992.
While the Spartans’ women’s team advanced to the Regionals this year, the men’s program finished tied for ninth out of 11 teams in the Mountain West championship,
“Our team now and in the future has an amazing opportunity to practice anything we put our mind to, whatever we’re struggling with or whatever we want to get better at,” said junior golfer Scott Munger.
Rich Thawley along with his wife Cindy, the alumni who funded the majority of the facility, were in attendance as well as other supporters and contributors.
“They are such generous people with their assets, but maybe even more importantly they are the most kind hearted people,” said athletic director Marie Tuite of the Thawley’s.
Along with Tuite, Rich Thawley cut through a golden ribbon with a pair of giant scissors, but the significance of Thursday’s event was even larger.
While those in attendance took their first shots on the new ground, Tuite had work to do addressing what is next for the South Campus renovations.
“We’re going to start Phase 2 of the golf complex and as Mr. Thawley said, we’re going to start tennis and softball,” Tuite said. “We’re going to transform South Campus.”
The timeframe for a completed South Campus is still up in the air as Tuite said they will be they will be taking it “one project at a time.”