An architect in golf and life, Kochenour builds program
4/9/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
Today, a fifth-year industrial engineering and architecture major, as well as the captain of the Lehigh women’s golf team, Kochenour has significantly improved her golf game since childhood. “My first 9-hole score was in the 80s. Yes, nine holes,” she laughs, remembering her athletic beginnings. “At the time I wasn’t very good, but I definitely had a lot of fun and that was what kept me going.”
Kochenour played golf in local leagues and tournaments throughout her childhood and eventually joined the Kochenour’s desire to play collegiate golf combined with her aspirations of being an engineer led her to Lehigh’s renowned engineering school, as well as its budding women’s golf program. “I was really interested in engineering, and Lehigh has a great reputation for that,” says Kochenour. “I also knew that a golf program would be starting during my first couple of years. I knew that this would give me some time to adjust to college life and to my work load.”
Though balancing athletics and academics is challenging, Kochenour believes that time management has been the key to her success as a student-athlete. “Producing a schedule for myself each week has allowed me to gain the most out of both areas,” she says. “It also helps that my coach stresses the importance of academics and does anything he can to support us.”
Head golf coach Kelly Gutshall boasts of Kochenour’s dedication to the team and academics over the past five years. “She was one of my best women’s recruits,” he says. “I knew Admissions would accept this excellent academic prospect.” Gutshall says that Kochenour has been one of Lehigh’s hardest working captains as a member of the Student-Athlete Council, the C.O.A.C.H. (community outreach) program, a student tutor, as well as a friend to everyone in need.
Kochenour was elected women’s golf captain during her second year when the team was still a club sport. Now in her third year as captain of the varsity team, Kochenour has played a significant role in building the women’s varsity program since its inception in 2001-2002. Kochenour attributes the club’s upgrade to varsity to the increasing interest in women’s golf.
“It’s so amazing to see how far we have come in such a short amount of time,” reflects Kochenour. “Although it has been very challenging, it has also been rewarding to know that I contributed to the starting of a varsity team at Lehigh. I can’t wait to see what the program is like five years from now.”
Next year, Kochenour aspires to be a project manager for a construction company. Though this may be her last year of competitive golf, she is certain that she will play the game for the rest of her life. “As I have gotten older, I have realized how much I love the sport,” she says. “I look at each round as a chance to have the round of my life. Each course presents a new challenge.”
And even though Kochenour graduates from a successful Lehigh athletic career, she maintains that “nothing beats playing golf on a sunny, Sunday afternoon with my dad.”
Story by Laura Fonte,