LPGA Tour Veteran Leslie Spalding to Head MSU Golf Program
8/27/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
She also knows how lucky she was to have 10 successful years on the LPGA Tour with six top 10 finishes to her credit. When the Billings Senior graduate (’87) takes the helm of the Montana State University women’s golf team in November, she plans to parlay that luck into a strong recruiting advantage.
“I’ve been to 49 states and Montana is the best,” Spalding says. “I have the advantage of being from a state where I’m still the hometown girl. My success has opened a lot of doors for me, and I think my experience is a real plus recruiting-wise. I’ve played with the best players and teachers in the world and I think kids want to be a part of that.”
Spalding will become MSU’s third head women’s golf coach since the program’s inception in the fall of 1993. Dan Davies, now a senior associate athletic director at MSU, was the program’s first head coach and only conference championship coach. Brittany Bayse, MSU’s current head coach, will finish the fall season of coaching this year before stepping down after her sixth season.
“We’re very excited to have a coach the caliber of Leslie, “Athletic Director Peter Fields said. “She has a passion for young people and a passion for excellence. Her desire to see student-athletes succeed in life as well as on the course makes her a great fit for Montana State.”
Spalding also brings extensive fund raising experience to the table having played in over 25 charity Pro-Am events a year for the last nine years as an LPGA independent contractor. Spalding was sponsored by Heinz Foods while a tour player. She competed from 1996-2005 and earned over $600,000 in her career as a tour professional.
Excited to be back in Montana, Spalding currently runs a junior golf school in Billings and coaches at Billings Central. Spalding was a four-year golfer at the University of Alabama where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Telecommunications/Film with a minor in Marketing.
“My passion is helping kids achieve their dreams and I am looking forward to coming to Montana State to do just that,” Spalding said.
“I’ve been to 49 states and Montana is the best,” Spalding says. “I have the advantage of being from a state where I’m still the hometown girl. My success has opened a lot of doors for me, and I think my experience is a real plus recruiting-wise. I’ve played with the best players and teachers in the world and I think kids want to be a part of that.”
Spalding will become MSU’s third head women’s golf coach since the program’s inception in the fall of 1993. Dan Davies, now a senior associate athletic director at MSU, was the program’s first head coach and only conference championship coach. Brittany Bayse, MSU’s current head coach, will finish the fall season of coaching this year before stepping down after her sixth season.
“We’re very excited to have a coach the caliber of Leslie, “Athletic Director Peter Fields said. “She has a passion for young people and a passion for excellence. Her desire to see student-athletes succeed in life as well as on the course makes her a great fit for Montana State.”
Spalding also brings extensive fund raising experience to the table having played in over 25 charity Pro-Am events a year for the last nine years as an LPGA independent contractor. Spalding was sponsored by Heinz Foods while a tour player. She competed from 1996-2005 and earned over $600,000 in her career as a tour professional.
Excited to be back in Montana, Spalding currently runs a junior golf school in Billings and coaches at Billings Central. Spalding was a four-year golfer at the University of Alabama where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Telecommunications/Film with a minor in Marketing.
“My passion is helping kids achieve their dreams and I am looking forward to coming to Montana State to do just that,” Spalding said.
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