Surrounded by her teammates in a room festooned with purple and white, Erica Lautensack, senior, signed with Stephen F. Austin University as the newest member of the collegiate golf team.
“I’m just so extremely happy,” she said.
Her feelings were echoed by her coach Eric Buechele.
“I am unbelievably proud,” he said. “I feel lucky to have had the opportunity to watch her since freshman year grow into the successful young lady she is today.”
E. Lautensack has been a member of the Lady Colts golf team since the fall of 2009 when she tried out for the team as an incoming freshman.
“The first time I saw her on the range I had no idea who she was but I was awestruck by her ability,” Buechele said.
E. Lautensack’s four years on the team were marked with multiple wins both individually and with her team, a team she will miss next year.
“We’re like a family and I will definitely miss them,” she said.
E. Lautensack looked at other colleges and had other offers but she chose SFA for its overall appeal and proximity to home. Her father, Philip Lautensack, also feels that since the SFA girls golf team is relatively new, E. Lautensack will be able to grow with the team.
“I think that as a freshman she’ll be a contributor to the team right away,” he said.
As E. Lautensack prepares to face new fairways, her coaches and teammates will follow her success.
“I’m not just proud of her golf accomplishments,” Buechele said, “but also of how she’s handled herself as a student as well.”
