Pankow's New Sport, New Love
By: Kevin Ivany
HurricaneSports.com
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – One of three freshmen and four underclassmen on the University of Miami women’s golf team, Morgan Pankow is not your typical collegiate golfer.
Unlike her teammates or most of her peers across the country, Pankow didn’t grow up in a family of golfers or pick up a driver before she could walk, but instead was an athlete who gradually came to love the sport.
“When I was out recruiting two years ago, I saw Morgan swinging on the range and I was very impressed with her core and lower body power. Her swing was very solid and natural; I could tell she was a great athlete,” Miami head coach Patti Rizzo said. “I found out later she was a softball pitcher in high school and they won the national championship. I noticed that Morgan was [not only] a great natural athlete, but she also knows how to compete. I saw a lot of talent in her and gave her an opportunity to walk on to the team. There is nothing easier than to be a mentor for someone who has great talent.”
Beginning her softball career when she was eight years old, Pankow discussed how she primarily played pitcher, while occasionally spending time at third base, up until she hung up her cleats when she was 15. Away from the diamond, she was also a competitive swimmer, qualifying for various events with times that made state cuts when she was between the ages of seven and 12.
“I played softball up until I was a freshman in high school, but that is when I also picked up my new passion and love for golf,” Pankow said. “I played for fun on my high school varsity team in 2015 and then started competing in junior tournaments in 2016.”
And since making the shift, the New Albany, Ohio, native has noticed a couple key differences between the pair of sports.
“I believe the biggest difference from softball to golf was the mental transition,” Pankow said. “In softball, you play on teams, your heart races, you scream chants and cheer on your teammates. In golf, however, it is completely the opposite. Frustration in this game, I have learned, does not help any situation; it makes everything worse. The mental game is tough, but I enjoy the challenge.”
Despite not having any family members who competed on the greens, Pankow mentioned how her grandfather always thought she would be a great golfer and is a big reason why she will be competing for the Hurricanes this weekend in Norman, Okla.
“He loved golf, so much that he would have played every day if he was able to. He had always wanted me to play, but at the time, I was not interested,” Pankow said. “But when I ended up trying out for the varsity team, not only did I do it for myself, but also for him. He would definitely be proud to see where I am now.”
Competing alongside her teammates at the Biltmore Hotel and Golf Course, Pankow missed out on the final cut to be a part of the five-player starting lineup at the Minnesota Invitational, but heading into the team’s second tournament, she is ready to make her collegiate debut.
“I am super excited to play in my first collegiate tournament,” Pankow said. “I think what I am looking forward to the most is playing in a different atmosphere. I have never visited Oklahoma before, so I am very anxious to compete in a new environment.”
Set to open her career at the Schooner Fall Classic Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Pankow is ready to put team qualifiers behind her for now and take the opportunity to continue to learn from Rizzo and associate head coach John Koskinen in a new environment.
“I was anxious arriving here on campus, but all I could think about was when [I could] step foot on the Biltmore to practice. I wanted to get started right away,” Pankow said. “Learning from both coach Rizzo and coach John has been amazing so far, and it is just the beginning. I am even more excited to have them walk beside me during tournaments to provide me with helpful decisions and different shots to play. I am so blessed to have such supporting and motivating coaches who will go out of their way to help any of us.”
Looking back on team qualifiers, Rizzo said, “I think during the first qualifier, Morgan was very nervous being a freshman and not knowing her position on the team. When she got to be around them a little more, I think she realized she is equally as talented. By the second qualifier, she had worked hard and was determined to make the team. She was driving the ball exceptionally well, so that helped her a lot.”
Getting accustomed to her new teammates and her position was something that did not take long, since Pankow did not have to do it alone.
Joining her in August were two other freshmen, Daniella Barrett and Franziska Sliper, who together have helped make the transition to collegiate golf a little easier.
“These girls are my best friends. They have made this transition so smooth and a lot easier than I thought it was going to be. We help each other out with everything and anything, from school work, to golf or just day-to-day things,” Pankow said. “They are also teaching me their native language, which is sort of tough learning Finnish and Norwegian at the same time, but baby steps (she laughed). We keep each other positive through the tough times and that’s what great teammates do for each other.”
Overall, the trio joins a veteran group led by seniors Macarena Aguilera and Renate Grimstad, junior Kristyna Frydlova and sophomore Anna Backman, and Pankow is excited about what this team could achieve.
“I honestly believe this team can go far,” Pankow said, “Knowing we have a great shot at nationals only motivates us to work harder. I think a great goal for this team is to make nationals and walk out on the course knowing we are going to be tough to beat.”
Along with her team goals, Pankow is looking to improve individually day-in and day-out and become the very best golfer she can be.
“Looking forward, I personally want to become the number one player on this team,” Pankow said. “I strive to be a leader, not only take over the number one position, but one who works hard every day, gets the good grades and has the best mindset out on the course.”
Rizzo added, “I think Morgan’s going to do very well her freshman year and I think by the time she’s a senior she will be a top player in collegiate golf.”
But for now, pursuing a major in business and minors in marketing and exercise physiology, Pankow is looking to take it one step at a time and just enjoy the moment.
“My overarching goal is to graduate college and then turn professional. I believe it is important to receive an education which is good to fall back on if things do not work out in the long run,” Pankow said.
