JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. - Carson-Newman Vice President for Athletics Allen Morgan has announced that head women's golf coach Suzanne Strudwick has assumed the duties of the athletic department's Senior Women's Administrator.
Strudwick takes over for Vickee Kazee-Hollifield, who retired in late April.
"Suzanne has done an outstanding job here at Carson-Newman with her golf program," Morgan said. "Through her work with her own sport, she has a proven track record for supporting women's athletics here at the university. Everyone knows our women's athletic program is very strong. She will help continue to ensure that all our female athletes have the best eductational and athletic opportunities that are possible."
This is the tail end of year five for Strudwick at Carson-Newman. She has sent an individual to nationals each of the last two years in Elizabeth England.
In her fourth season, the Eagles won their inaugural showing at the King Invitational by three strokes over host school King after a commanding performance from Elizabeth England who tied a South Atlantic Conference record final round record of 68 for a 143 total to collect the individual title at the event. In postseason play, the team finished at seventh in the SAC Championship. England was named the SAC Champion, allowing her to continue her season into the NCAA Division II Women's Golf Championships South/Southeast Regional where she finished tied for 21st.
Year two at Mossy Creek for Strudwick brought her her first tournament win and her first SAC title. It all happened on the same day. The Eagles were eight back making the turn on the back nine, but a furious charge rallied the Eagles to the 2015 SAC tournament title. Elizabeth England, Danielle Baiunco and Meridith Hawkins all earned All-SAC honors.
In her first season as head women's golf coach in 2013-14, Strudwick guided C-N to the top overall seed in the South Atlantic Conference tournament while sophomore Meridith Hawkins was the league's player of the year with the lowest overall stroke average. They finished tied for third. Her inaugural season saw her named as the co-coach of the year by the league, along with Jurray Surratt of Wingate.
Strudwick was the LPGA's Rookie of the Year in 1993 and owns 57 top 10 finishes in her career. She has more than 1.5 million dollars in career earnings and took home tournament championships at the French Open and the AGF Paris Open.
Over the last few years, she's taken on another passion, teaching golf. Most recently, Strudwick was an instructor at Fairways and Greens Golf Center in Knoxville, Tenn.
She is a TPI Level 3 certified Junior instructor and Level 2 Golf Coach. Strudwick is well regarded within the golf industry as reaching the highest level of training and coaching and is regularly asked to consult with other PGA Members, course owners on how to improve & increase junior programs.
In 2011, Strudwick was named the Tennessee PGA Junior Teacher of the Year and was named to U.S. Kids Top 50 Kid Teachers. She replicated the U.S. Kids honor in 2012 in addition to being named the PGA Knoxville Junior Leader of the Year.
Strudwick took home the PGA's Richard Eller Growth of the Game award in 2008. That distinction recognizes the golf professional who has excelled in leadership, player development, and promotion of the game of golf to all sectors of players.
Strudwick resides in Knoxville.