By Cole Tomlin, News Editor
The three high school championships and numerous tournament wins around the country have made Katherine Schuster an instantly recognizable name at FFHS, on the OBX and throughout the amateur golfing scene.
None of that mattered earlier this fall, however, as the 17-year-old senior walked tee to green surrounded by pro golfers.
Schuster recently competed in the IOA Golf Classic in Longwood, Florida, where she was not only the youngest player there, but she was also the only amateur. However, Schuster stepped up to the challenge and finished in 51st place.
“Honestly, I love being the underdog, so I was very excited to be playing with the pros who are better to me, and to be able to analyze what part of my game I can improve on,” Schuster said.
The tournament was part of the Symetra Tour, which is like a minor-league professional tour for women hoping to make it to the LPGA Tour. The event weekend featured 108 golfers in all playing for a tournament purse of $175,000. Despite her amateur status, Schuster made the cut after shooting opening rounds of even-par 71 – 44 of the professionals did not make the cut – and finished tied for 51st. That was better than 12 other pros who finished all three rounds.
Had Schuster not been an amateur playing on a sponsor’s exemption, she would have won a modest $675 for her finish. This year’s IOA champion, Laura Wearn, went home with a check for $22,500. (You can check out the full tournament leaderboard here.)
For Schuster, every competition is another opportunity for her to improve her skills, so playing with professionals wasn’t as daunting for her as it might seem.
Schuster’s confidence can be traced back to her unrelenting work ethic, which she believes to be the primary source of her success.
“It is definitely a great feeling to know that all of the many hours I’ve put into my craft are starting to pay off,” Schuster said. “I will never settle and be satisfied, but I do feel good when I reach a goal I have set for myself.”
The accomplishments Schuster has already racked up as an amateur golfer are truly impressive as well, but Schuster likes to think of these accomplishments as simply part of her path forward.
“I am very humbled with all of my accomplishments, and I know that there are going to be many more in the future,” Schuster said. “Each one is very meaningful to me.”
Because of all of these accomplishments, Schuster has obtained a huge support system on the Outer Banks. Many of her classmates, parents, teachers and coaches have all shown their support to Schuster over the years, which pushes her to get better and better every day.
This support has led Schuster to feel as though she is representing the OBX wherever she goes.
“I am truly honored for all of the support that the Outer Banks community has given me,” Schuster said. “I absolutely love it.”
So what’s next for Schuster?
She plans on competing in other American Junior Golf Association events to increase her ranking as an amatuer golfer. And she’ll soon be able to sign her scholarship to play ACC golf at Clemson.
For now, Schuster plans are perfecting her craft by practicing as much as she can.
“I have made many sacrifices these past few years and I’ve missed out on a lot of things, but I know deep down it will all pay off in the end,” Schuster said.
Senior Cole Tomlin can be reached at 21TOMLINCO11@daretolearn.org.
