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Dream Big Profile: Allie Blomquist
Aug. 8, 2006
A leader on the course and in the classroom, University of Wisconsin golfer Allie Blomquist recently concluded her senior year, which can only be described as amazing. In addition to being the holder of virtually every women's golf record at Wisconsin, Blomquist qualified for the NCAA Championships for the first time this year and tied for 18th place with an eight over par 77-72-74-73-296. During the Big Ten Conference Championships, she tied for sixth place, her best Conference finish ever. She has also been named to the Verizon Academic All-District At-Large Team, which makes her eligible for Academic All-American status. Last year, Blomquist became the first Badger women's golfer named first-team Academic All-American. From Afton, Minn., the applied mathematics and physics major carried a 3.9 cumulative grade point average (GPA) during her collegiate career. She is a four-time Academic All-Big Ten member and a four-time Athletic Board Scholar, signifying the highest GPA for all women golfers. Blomquist says that her ability to focus helped her maintain outstanding grades. "I focus on one thing at a time," she said. "If it's time to practice, then I do that. If I need to study, then that's what I concentrate on." During her senior year, she spent approximately five to six hours a day on the golf course. Blomquist started out as a shortstop playing fastpitch softball, but a vacation during high school proved to be worthwhile. Before her sophomore year, she picked up clubs for the first time. The golf pro at the vacation course said that she was good. Although thinking the golf pro was crazy, with a little persuasion from dad, she played golf in the 10th grade and has not set the clubs down since. In the future, she desires to play on the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) tour but realizes it's a hard road that will take a lot of work. But Blomquist appears to be ready. Armed with confidence and maturity, she offers this suggestion to young girls just starting out in athletics. "I would encourage young girls to play a lot of sports to be a complete athlete before they decide to focus on just one. In that way, they can see what they are best suited for and can develop athletic moves that are used in many sports." Blomquist doesn't look at herself as a "female golfer." Rather, she prefers to view herself as a golfer and strives to be the best athlete she can be. For those who doubt her, she just smiles and laughs when she sinks the putt and beats them. |
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