GRAY DEYOSports Writer

Former Tullahoma High School golfer, Ava Catherine Banks, just capped off her final collegiate golf season with a bang. She and the rest of her Huntingdon College teammates qualified to play in the Women’s Division III National Championship for the first time in their school’s history.

From May 13 to 16, Banks and her teammates competed in Williamsburg, Va., for the DIII National Title. For their first time being there, it is fair to say there was not a high set expectation on how they should perform. The fact that they were even there was an accomplishment in itself. But on the first day of the event, they rose above any projection they had as a team, by putting themselves into hardware contention.

They finished in fifth place on day one of the championship.

Even with a rain delay thrown in the mix to try to dampen Banks and her team’s spirits, they powered through and did so the rest of the event. It is hard to believe that at one point the Tullahoma native was debating whether or not to even play college golf, and now she and her team were in the mix for a national title.

Going into her senior season at THS she was unsure if she wanted to continue to pursue golf further. When she played in the state tourney in her final season, she had a rough opening round but bounced back in her next round. Showcasing this resilience, it garnered the attention of some college coaches, which then led to some offers filtering in. One of the coaches who became interested was the head coach of Huntingdon College at the time, Ashley Crane. Banks and her parents then went on a visit to the college in Alabama, and in what seemed like a blink, Banks at the visit made it clear that she was all on board to officially commit.

This left her parents shocked.

“When we were about to leave she said well ok, where do I sign to do this? Me and my wife kind of looked at each other like oh my gosh this just happened,” Jeff Banks said recalling his daughter’s decision to attend Huntingdon College.

Along with her college team’s achievements in her final season, individually she qualified for every tournament while there, except for one due to illness.

Out of the 36 teams present at the National Championship 20 teams were going to get eliminated after day two. A cutline was set that the 15 teams with the lowest scores would compete on the third and fourth day of competition.

Banks and her team made this cut. They then followed it with their two lowest combined round scores on the third and fourth day, to help them finish in eighth place.

“I am extremely proud of her,” Banks’ dad said.

“I can’t exactly say what my wife would say. But I know she just wanted to see her, she did not care how she played, or what kind of game it was she just wanted to see her. She was proud of her no matter what.”

Banks’ parents have a whole lot to be proud of, especially with what their daughter accomplished while she was at Tullahoma. She helped the Lady Wildcats golf team win a couple of regional championships and helped them qualify for state as a team three times from her sophomore to her senior year. As far as individual achievements go she made all-district teams and also qualified for the state golf tournament as a soloist in her freshman season.

As for what is next for Banks with her golf career now seemingly behind her, there is not a clear answer. However, whatever she chooses to pursue, she is sure to find a way to be successful. The hard work, resilience, and composure she picked up playing golf for 12 years did not go anywhere.