Angela Ding’s golfing career began at 11 years old when a family-friend took her out to a driving range.
To her dismay, she ended up having a terrible time — but refused to give up on the sport so quickly.
The college scholarship opportunities her family-friend spoke of never left the back of her mind, and she never gave up on golf.
As she continued to study and play the sport, she grew to love it.
Fast forward almost 10 years and Ding, now a senior on the women’s golf team, is not only the captain but was named Second-Team All-Patriot League as a sophomore.
“Usually I have two captains, but Angela (Ding) is able to do it on her own because she is so good at her communication skills,” said head coach Mary Kate Lynch. “She also leads by example. She’s just a huge presence on the team and an overall great leader.”
Although she is at least two years older than her fellow teammates, who are all underclassmen, Ding said she doesn’t see herself as a leader who bosses people around but rather tries to lead by example and views her teammates as friends and family.
“To be around Angela (Ding) is to love Angela,” Lynch said. “She’s just such a phenomenal person. Everyone who meets her instantly likes her.”
Freshman women’s golfer Meghna Grover said Ding is one of the reasons she came to Lehigh.
On her official visit, Grover said Ding and her teammates were exceptionally welcoming and enthusiastic about golf and their love for Lehigh.
Grover said for a few of the freshmen with rigorous majors, the college adjustment has been stressful. Grover said Ding has been there to help.
“With the freshmen specifically, she’s always been really active in making sure we’re adjusting to college well,” Grover said. “She’s always been open for us to talk to if we’re stressed or need advice.”
Ding said, when she was a freshman, she was close with her captain Reagan Jahn, ‘19, who she learned a lot from and said is one of the best examples of a captain she has encountered in her life.
With the golf team scattered across the country, Ding currently meets with her team via Zoom on a regular basis to check in, have team dinners and make sure everyone is staying up to date on their workouts.
“We’re basically family, so it’s like not seeing your family for a whole year,” Ding said. “It’s not a great feeling.”
Lynch said she understands how the time apart is affecting the golfers and hopes for the sake of the team that they will be able to participate in the spring.
Lynch said her top concern for the team is their mental health and ability to balance that with the loss of their identity and inability to play the sport they love.
Lynch and Ding said, if COVID-19 permits, the best thing for the team is for them to compete in the spring.
“Being able to compete with my team again would be a phenomenal feeling, and I hope that it happens,” Ding said. “I honestly just really miss seeing my whole team together and being able to do things like team dinners, so I really miss having that team atmosphere and the environment.”
If a spring season is approved by the Patriot League, Ding will have the opportunity to accomplish her goal of being named First-Team All-Patriot League and winning the Patriot League Title before her Lehigh career is over.
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