Outstanding DCHS Junior Golfer Mallory Sullivan, who has competed at the state tournament level for the last three years, signed with Cumberland University Thursday and will join the school once she graduates.
“We’re happy to have someone of Mallory’s character,” said Richard Williams, Assistant Golf Coach at Cumberland University. “Obviously playing ability is important but we’re also looking for good kids. We have a great group and a good chemistry on the team and we think she (Mallory) will fit in very well,” he said.
While the program is relative new, women’s golf at Cumberland has been quite successful according to Assistant Coach Williams. “It’s not been around for very long but we’ve had instant success. We finished 20th in the country this year in the NAIA. We have an individual who is leaving this Saturday to go play in the NAIA National Championship as an individual so we’re very pleased with the direction that the program is going,” said Assistant Coach Williams.
DCHS Golf Coach Joe Pat Cope said he is happy for Mallory. “Cumberland is a great university and has a great golf program and I know she will be very successful there,” he said.
Sullivan is an all around special athlete, according to Coach Cope whose talents are not confined to just golf. “She came out for me and played tennis this year and was the number one tennis player. She went to the district semi-finals. She is just an all around athlete,” he said.
“As for Mallory’s golf game, as far as she hits the golf ball, that’s what puts her at a different level. She is thirty or forty yards longer than most girls she plays. In her sophomore year, Mallory finished second in the state. We knew then how special a golfer and an athlete she was,” said Coach Cope.
Mallory, who will return for her senior season next year at DCHS, said she is looking forward to another good year of golf before she heads off to Cumberland. “I’m very excited. I’m ready to start my future. I’m back from a shoulder separation injury and I’m playing good. It should be a good year,” said Sullivan.
Asked why she chose Cumberland, Mallory said “Cumberland is a great fit for me. I love the golf team and the coach and the small classroom sizes of the school,” she said.
(PICTURED ABOVE: SEATED- CUMBERLAND ASSISTANT WOMEN GOLF COACH RICHARD WILLIAMS, MALLORY SULLIVAN, AND CUMBERLAND SWING COACH MATT WALTER; STANDING- DCHS GOLF COACH JOE PAT COPE, JAMES SULLIVAN (FATHER), TONYA SULLIVAN (MOTHER), AND SHAY SULLIVAN (SISTER)
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