Suzanne Strudwick interview

'The three girls I've been able to sign will add a fresh young dynamic," Strudwick said. "They're enthusiasm, as well as their desire to play and play well for Carson-Newman have really shown through."

Ashley Kay (Palos Heights, Ill.), Mikaela Thibodeau (Davie, Fla.) and Elizabeth England (Oakland, Tenn.) will join the program in the fall of 2014. 

Ashley Kay comes to Carson-Newman from Marist High School. She's played four years of varsity golf for the Redhawks.  As captain of the girls golf team, Kay qualified for the IHSA State Finals after leading the RedHawks to their best season in program history.  She is the first female golfer from her high school to continue playing at the collegiate level.

"She was the last one to sign," Strudwick said. "She will add a level of steadiness and consistency that I'm looking for."

Kay took home a second place finish at the Ravisloe Tournament by shooting a 77 to begin her senior year.  She has maintained honor status her junior and senior years and carries a 4.31 GPA coming to Carson-Newman. 

Elizabeth England joins the Eagles from First Assembly Christian School. She is a four-time state tournament qualifier for the state of Tennessee and finished as runner-up at the end of her senior season.  She finished in the top five of the regional tournament all four years of her high school career and took home top 10 finishes at the state event her sophomore and junior campaigns. 

England is a four-time Commercial Appeal Best of Preps selection. 

"We're thrilled about having her," Strudwick said. "She's extremely intelligent and hard-working and that cerebral nature shows up in her philosophy and education as it pertains to golf."

She is the daughter of Curtis and Amber England and plans to study education at C-N.  She was a member of the National Honor Society, Rho Kappa and Mu Alpha Theta in high school.

Mikaela Thibodeau makes her way to Mossy Creek after golfing at Cypress Bay High School in Davie, Fla., where she played as either the number one or two golfer in all four years of her career.  She finished her senior season with a 77 stroke average. 

Thibodeau finished in the top five in 18 tournament and brought home five tournament championships during her high school career.  She boasts a 71 from her junior year at the Doral Blue Monster course.

"She's a very dynamic and fun player," Strudwick said. "She will be a live spark for this team. You need someone to be energizing and dynamic, and I believe she can be that and be that player to go out and shoot a 67 for us."

She is a two-time All-Broward county second team selection (freshman and sophomore years) and a two-time first team all-county pick (junior and senior seasons).  She brought home and eighth place conference finish her junior year and followed it up with a third place finish her senior season. 

The Lightning garnered district, regional and a Florida state title her senior season.  Cypress Bay finished as runners-up in her junior season. 

Thibodeau is the daughter of John Thibodeau and plans to study business at Carson-Newman.  She was also recruited by St. Leo, Coastal Carolina, Limestone, Southern Miss and the University of Tampa. 

-CN-