French golfer finds new home in Stephenville

BY LESLIE POSADAS

Multimedia Journalist

From La Chapelle-sur-Edre, France, to Stephenville, Texas, Lou Deltombe’s journey at Tarleton State University has been one of growth, adjustment and determination.

“I think the biggest cultural adjustment I had to do coming from France is adjusting my pace of play,” Deltombe said. “People are playing fast in France, and spending five hours on a golf course is not imaginable, but here, people have a slow pace of play.”

Adapting to the pace of play and length of American courses has not been Deltombe’s only adjustment. On and off the course, Deltombe has experienced change in all aspects.

Leaving behind her parents and one brother in France, Deltombe has had to create a new support system from the ground up.

Deltombe has found this support from her five teammates, coach and new graduate assistant, Elle Fox.

“Lou brings a positive and competitive energy to the team. She has the natural ability to connect with everyone and keeps practices productive and focused,” Fox said. “She leads by example, showing that consistency, discipline and positivity are just as important.”

Deltombe’s resilience is evident not only in her play but in how she handles setbacks. Fox recalls a moment when she struggled during a round.

“Lou was really struggling at the beginning of a golf round, but she refused to let herself go into a spiral,” Fox said. “Instead of focusing on the past, she reset and fought back, finishing the round strong and much better than where she started. Lou is a great example of how to handle adversity. Her ability to stay composed under pressure is amazing.”

The women’s golf coach, Isabel Jimenez, admires the growth Deltombe has shown throughout her time with the program.

“As a coach, you see them grow and change in all ways; they develop their skills, they change physically and mentally and become a better version of themselves,” Jimenez said. “You are proud to see that improvement and development and know that you had something to do with it.”

Heading into the first few games of the season, Jimenez focused on preparation and long-term growth rather than specific leaderboard positions.

“Heading into our first event, the goal was to perform well, but we did not necessarily have an exact number or leaderboard position in mind. The beginning of the year is slow; we only have had two weeks of team practices before the event, so what you do during your summer at home makes a big impact on how you perform at the very beginning,” Jimenez said.

For Deltombe, this last year of college golf carries extra significance.

“I feel, of course, extra motivated because it’s my last year, and after[ward], college life will be over, so it will be time to stand up and get to the real world,” Deltombe said. “I hope this last year will be the best, and I will make sure I enjoy every moment of it.”

Deltombe’s dedication to the team extends beyond individual success. She wishes to inspire others, particularly young girls who might be dreaming of the same sport she fell in love with at the age of 12 with her father and grandfather.

“I hope that my attitude on the course, the way I give dedication and how I practice hard, inspire young girls to do the same,” Deltombe said. “It’s never easy, but I never give up while respecting my coaches and my teammates and letting them know I’m here when they need it.”

Although Deltombe has been in the states for three years now, she holds onto traditions from home.

“One of the traditions I’m not letting go from France is saying ‘play well’ before I hit my first tee shot,” Deltombe said. “It’s a tradition you must do as a courtesy sign to your group mate, but here they don’t do it, so I do.”

As Deltombe gets ready to close her senior golf chapter, she carries with her the lessons of adaptation, resilience and teamwork.

Her story is a reminder that sports are about more than scores; they are about growth, connection and the courage to face challenges head-on, wherever they come from.