UTC’s Emily McLennan Named TGA Golfer of the Year

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn.—Champion golfer. Pretty simple description, but it is as apt as it is basic when describing Chattanooga Mocs junior Emily McLennan. Her 2014 just got a little sweeter with the announcement that she is the Tennessee Golf Association’s Women’s Player of the Year.

“I didn’t expect it,” McLennan smiled. “There are so many good players in Tennessee, especially Kendall Martindale, she’s insanely good. I did have a good spring semester and great summer, so I really put myself into contention for it.”

McLennan captured two titles during 2014. She won the Southern Conference Championship in April before claiming the Tennessee Women’s Amateur in June. In the latter event, she wondered if her Aussie roots would be an issue.

“I was waiting for them to tell me that ‘you’re not from Tennessee, you can’t play here’,” she said with a laugh. “I go to school here, and I have so many connections in Tennessee, this really is my second home.”

Her coach was not surprised at the honor.

“If you look back at what Emily has achieved, it’s really awesome,” coach Colette Murray said. “It’s great for her, it’s great for the program. It’s a huge achievement. Chattanooga is definitely on the map in terms of Tennessee with the wins that have come from both programs. Our players (women & men) are doing a really good job of representing our school and athletics department.

"She worked incredibly hard in the spring and summer to merit this award."

As Murray noted, the Mocs have had a lot of TGA success in recent years. Former Moc Steven Fox captured the 2011 Match Play Championship and the 2013 Amateur. Now a pro, Fox won the 2014 State Open one month before McLennan’s breakthrough win. He won the 2012 TGA Men’s Golfer of the Year after winning the United States Amateur at Cherry Hills (Colo.).

She and her Mocs mates have some time off before the season returns in March. They return to Kiawah Island, S.C., March 1-3 for the Edwin Watts/Kiawah Island Spring Classic. That starts a four-tournament run, including the Chattanooga Classic (April 6-7), leading into the SoCon Championship April 12-14. Chattanooga has won five consecutive SoCon titles and boasts four straight medalists.

But for now, it is a chance for McLennan to relax, recharge and get ready for the spring slate. In the interim, she is working hard in school, 4.0 students have a habit of just that, while counting down the days until she gets to return home for the first time in 18 months.

“It will be great to get home to see my family and friends,” she continued. “It’s been full go for pretty much a year solid, so now I’m just giving myself time to recover more mentally than physically.”