Peru State athletic director Wayne Albury recently announced the hiring of Sue Owen as the new Bobcat women’s head golf coach. Owen began her duties late this summer.
Albury noted, “We are pleased to have been able to hire someone with the experience of Coach Owen to head up our women’s golf program. Her previous experience and her high character will be of benefit of the women in our Bobcat golf program.”
Graduating in 1973 with a bachelor degree in elementary education from Missouri Western State University, she started her teaching career as the K-6 Special Education teacher at Maysville, Missouri. Owen went back to school and graduated from Northwest Missouri State University with her masters in learning disabilities in 1979. After having a few more teaching experiences, she landed in Rock Port, Missouri, where she has taught since 1983.
Owen is currently the Blue Jays’ girl’s golf coach. In addition, she coached the girl’s golf team at Rock Port from 1984-1994 as well as from 2001-2008. Another coaching experience includes being an assistant volleyball coach from 1994-1997. From 1994-1999 she was the athletic director for the Blue Jays. During her years as a coach she has had nine individual state golf qualifiers and two team state golf qualifiers.
In her free time, she enjoys playing golf, sewing, reading, and attending high school and college sporting events. To her, the most important thing is spending time with her husband, Ron, her two children, Brady Owen and Brandi Gipson, as well as granddaughter Isla.
Owen is ready to get started with the Bobcat team. She commented, “I am excited for this new journey. I look forward to watching these ladies grow as a team and grow academically. This season’s roster may be small, but we will be mighty.” Because of the double coaching duty, the Bobcats and Blue Jays will attend some practices together this fall. It will give them an opportunity to play on a different course than they are used to and gain experience.
Senior golfer Emily Whipple (Lincoln) is looking forward to having Owen as her new coach. Whipple commented, “I’m really looking forward to working with Coach Owen. I believe her background in golf and her passion for the sport will be a great asset to our team.”
Peru State is currently finalizing the schedule for the 2018-2019 season. The full schedule will be posted at https://goo.gl/LqtY4z .