A friendly, bubbly young lady sits down in a relaxed position with her hair in a ponytail and her hands stuffed inside her sweatshirt pocket.
This young lady goes by the name of Delaney Howson. A Canadian native from Toronto, Ontario, Howson is a member of the women’s golf team and a junior finance major at Murray State, but why did she choose Murray State?
“Honestly, it was kind of a fluke,” She said.
Howson said her coach back home knew a recruiter who had connections with Murray State Women’s Golf Coach Velvet Milkman. After looking at other colleges in Georgia and South Carolina, Howson preferred the atmosphere of Murray State to any other prospective school.
“I actually do like the small-town feel,” Howson said. “Everyone is so friendly.”
However, Howson said the transition into college took its toll on her.
“I was really excited the summer before I was coming in,” she said. “I got here and it was a meltdown. It was beyond terrifying. I knew no one.”
Howson says despite not knowing anyone, her team was immediately accepting of her. She now describes her team as her support system.
“We rely on each other all the time,” Howson said.
As a lover of hockey and lacrosse, Howson said golf was not her first love, as she did not pick up the game until the age of 14, with the help of her brothers.
Not only did her brothers lead her onto the golfing path, but her mom was a big influence as well.
“My mom didn’t want me playing lacrosse anymore,” Howson said. “(It was) a little rough.”
Howson’s mom did not like the dangerous effects of lacrosse and hockey. Therefore, she wanted her daughter to go into training with a golf coach.
As the saying goes, mother knows best. Howson’s golf career took flight, and she was named OVC Freshman of the Year during her first season at Murray State.
Howson was also the first golfer in the University’s history to qualify for the United States Golf Association’s United States Women’s Amateur Championship in West Bloomfield, Mich.
“I’ve never been to a better run tournament,” Howson said. “It was an unbelievable experience to play in a big event like that.”
Although Howson is an outstanding golfer, she is just like any other student at Murray State, balancing schoolwork with everyday life.
When she has spare time, Howson said she loves to hang out with her teammates and eat at her favorite restaurant in Murray, Jasmine Thai Cuisine and Sushi Bar.
As far as a future in golf, Howson said it would be a great experience, but she has other goals.
“I want a degree,” Howson said, “but obviously I would enjoy doing something with golf.”
This summer Howson plans to head back to Toronto and work full time at a golf course and play in a few tournaments.
Story by Taylor Crum, Staff writer.