Tucson, Ariz. – Freshman Gigi Stoll, who will tee off today at the 2016 SDSU March Mayhem tournament, is hoping to be the future of women's golf at the University of Arizona. But her past --oddly enough -- was all about basketball.
Stoll, a freshman from Tigard, Ore., was the Metro League 2015 Player of the Year in Basketball, and first-team All-State in basketball for the 2014-15 season. Her reputation, however, stems from her ability at the free-throw line. Playing for Beaverton High School, Stoll was 31 for 31 in five state tournament games and 15 for 15 in the final game, which set a tournament record. This led her to be the Metro League Scoring champion for the 2014-15 season, the same year she captured the same title for golf.
So how do you pick a sport to play in college after that?
“I decided to play golf over basketball because I felt like I had more of a future in golf,” said Stoll. “I have always put golf before basketball. I continued to play basketball in high school because I loved my team and I couldn't see myself quitting.”
That's some real dedication, and Stoll hasn't looked back since.
She loves the women's golf team here at the University of Arizona. Stoll says that she has really enjoyed life in college, and the mix of school with the competitiveness of college golf has kept her very engaged. She's bonded closely with the team's only senior, Lindsey Weaver, who has acted as a mentor and a friend to Stoll since her outset at Arizona. Head coach Laura Ianello and assistant Derek Radley have acted as similar mentors, helping Stoll get her feet under her in this new experience.
“Our relationship is really strong,” said Stoll. “They are always willing to help; they do everything they can to ensure that we are prepared for all of our competitions. They know when to be really serious and when to have a good time. I think they are the best two coaches around, they benefit each other and they make our team a lot better. [Coach Ianello] is serious when she needs to be, but she can be a lot of fun. When we are on trips she knows when to be hard on us, but she also knows how to have fun. She is definitely a funny one off the course as well.”
This seems to be a theme on the team, as they demand high-level results but also want to have fun while they do it. The Wildcats are a group that love the game of golf, and they have a lot of fun playing it.
“Gigi Stoll is coming off of a stellar performance at the All State Sugar Bowl Intercollegiate in New Orleans," said head coach Laura Ianello. "She is a strong player who has the ability to hit the long ball and make multiple birdies a round. I look for her to be a strong presence on our team the next 4 years'."
Stoll's performance in New Orleans really was stellar; she notched two rounds of par and one round under par. Her play was incredibly consistent, carding ten holes under par and nine holes over. The other 35 holes were par. This led her to a tie for 11th place in the tournament, but more importantly – she led the team overall.
“I struggled a little bit in the fall, just adjusting to everything,” said Stoll. “New Orleans, being my first tournament of the spring season, it was really important to me that I do well. I had been working really hard, and I missed the first lineup for the tournament in California. It was really important for me to come out and do well. I think I did well, but I was looking for a better result towards the end. Definitely happy with the outcome, and I am looking forward to the next few tournaments.”
The Wildcats will look to her as a key component of their success in tournaments and years to come.
Arizona tees off today, Monday, March 21st, at 7:30 a.m. PST at the SDSU March Mayhem tournament. For more updates about the University of Arizona women's golf team, follow @UAWomensGolf on Twitter, uawomensgolf on Instagram and like us on Facebook at facebook.com/ArizonaWomensGolf.
