Golf, hard work: Louise Depadt shines on the course

BY ASHTYN HANSARD

Digital Media Director

On Feb. 2-3, Tarleton State University’s women’s golf team started its spring season at the Texas State Invitational at the Landa Park Golf Course in New Braunfels, Texas.

After competing against 14 other schools, Tarleton came in second place with a final score of 17.68 points. However, Louise Depadt walked away with more than some silver that night.

Depadt is a junior at Tarleton and has been with the golf program since 2024 when she first moved to the university. While she and her teammates had their own struggles and challenges while playing, Depadt had to spend more time adjusting to Tarleton than others.

Depadt is originally from Lusanger, France. She says she doesn’t regret the decision, but it was hard to leave her home country.

She found herself struggling to adjust to America at first, having to learn a different culture and country through experience. She even found herself struggling with golfing at first.

“It was different grass, different courses and also playing in a team environment because golf is usually an individual sport,” Depadt said. “I couldn’t work on my swing the way I was used to.”

Even though there were many things she had to learn quickly when it came to living in America and golf, Depadt found a way around the struggles.

“I had to adjust my routines to fit the team and learn to find solutions quicker on my own, because we are always competing and have to be ready,” Depadt said. “It affected my golf at first, but it made me more independent and mentally stronger.”

After competing for two semesters in her sophomore year, Depadt was ready to keep up the work and take home some more wins. However, Depadt ended up getting seriously injured and needed surgery on her meniscus after only the first tournament of the fall season.

Being forced to sit out and recover from surgery was frustrating for Depadt, especially since her passion for golf runs vigorously.

“When I am not playing, I do not really know what to do,” Depadt said.

However, the anger and frustration she was feeling pushed her even more to make a full recovery and come back stronger in the spring.

“I spent a lot of time in the gym and in rehab. Physically it was demanding, but mentally it was the hardest part,” Depadt said. “It took a lot of patience and discipline.”

Depadt proved her work ethic and passion for golf upon her return this year. On Feb. 12, the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) named Depadt their first Golfer of the Week for the spring season.

Depadt was happy to earn this title, especially after having to sit out the previous semester due to her injury.

“It means a lot because it shows that the work is paying off. I am proud to represent my team, but I am focused on staying consistent and continuing to improve,” Depadt said.

Not only did she get to bring home this title, but Depadt also broke the all-time 54-hole program record at the Texas State Invitational.

Depadt managed to score an eight-under par as well as a 64 on her second round of the first day. In the third and final round, she scored a 10-under and placed first in the invitational. She also carded a one-under par in the final round to shoot 205, which is the lowest round recorded in the program’s history. She now holds both program records from last season at the WAC Championships with a 66 round and a 206 54-hole.

Depadt was thrilled to see that she broke this record. However, she didn’t let it get to her head.

“It is special to break a record like that, but at the same time, I always want to do more,” Depadt said. “I am never fully satisfied, and I always try my best to keep improving.”

Depadt has had a fantastic start to the spring semester, earning herself a WAC title and breaking records at the start of the season. While her hard work is paying off, she has no plans to slow down.

“My goals are to stay consistent, keep improving, compete for wins and help my team win the WAC again so we can go back to regionals and do better there than last year,” Depadt said.

Her injury may have set her back once, but Depadt is working to not let that happen again.

“I am focusing on preparation, strength training, recovery and trusting the process every day,” Depadt said.