Rosol closes out final round
Jason Wilcox - Sentinel Sports WriterArticle Photos
Golf is a game all about discovering and learning terrain and Amanda Rosol has certainly traversed quite a bit of it during the last several years.
The former Fairmont High School golf standout has spent the last four seasons hitting the fairways for South Dakota State University in Brookings, S.D., and recorded her most successful campaign this season - her last - for the Jackrabbits.
Rosol earned her most varsity playing time this season, averaging an 83.32 in 22 rounds.
She played those rounds all across the country, facing courses in Nebraska, Idaho, Iowa, California, Georgia, Michigan, Arizona and Minnesota to name a few.
"I've pretty much traveled all over, but I've never really gone to the East Coast," said Rosol.
But it was her trip to Arizona - Chandler, Ariz., to be specific - where she had the tournament of her career.
Rosol shot a 78-74-79-231 at the Cowgirl Classic to lead all Jackrabbit players and finished 11th overall as SDSU finished 11th as a team.
"I expected to play pretty good - it was my third time going to that tournament. ... It's one of the best courses we play and probably my favorite," said Rosol.
Her 18-hole score (74), 36-hole score (152) and 54-hole total (231) were all career-lows.
"Probably in the second round. The first round I shot a 78 and the second round 74. I think I birdied the first two or three holes of the second round with a few long putts. I had a good feeling after that," Rosol said on when she thought the tournament was going her way.
"The weather is always good because it's in Arizona. (The course) is always in excellent condition. I always seem to play pretty decent there," she added.
For her career, Rosol competed in 28 events and 76 total rounds in four seasons.
She had a collective 83.34 average, with an 18-hole low score of 74 at the Cowgirl Classic.
She finished her career with one top-10 finish, four top-25 finishes and her best individual finish was fifth.
The opportunity to play so many courses in so many different parts of the country is also exciting, but the flip side is it can be an impediment to education.
"As far as playing, it's not that big a difference (from high school golf). The big adjustment is in classes - trying to find the time to make up classes," said Rosol.
Even though in golf the player is essentially playing against themself, the caliber of opponents is far more different than in prep lineups.
"The courses are a lot longer. Overall, the players are a lot better. They're the best players from all over, not just a few good players from your area," said Rosol.
In college, the season is also split, with players starting in the fall, taking a winter break, then getting back to the greens in the spring.
"It isn't that different. I'm used to playing both seasons," she said.
Rosol also noted the difference in rounds with players getting to play 36 holes in the first round and 18 in the second round.
"That was different," she said.
The five-time Fairmont golf letterwinner and three-time state qualifier also notched another key collegiate honor during her junior season.
At The Summit League Championships, Rosol earned first-team all-league recognition as she placed fifth overall - her best career finish in any tournament - with an 82-77-77-236.
That same season, Rosol was also named to the Division I Coaches Association All-American Scholar Team and The Summit League Academic All-Conference team.
Ironically, with all her golf travels, she closed out her collegiate playing days May 2-3 at Dacotah Ridge Golf Club in Morton for the Dakota Cup against rival North Dakota State University.
The Jackrabbits pocketed a 15.5-8.5 win over NDSU.
Rosol is SDSU's co-record holder for the most rounds played in a season (25) during her junior season when she averaged 82.4.
As a sophomore, she averaged an 83.2 in eight meets after shooting an 89 in one event as a freshman.
Rosol will return to SDSU to attend their pharmacy school for the next four years.
She said she would like to return to the surrounding area at some point, and did make an appearance at Rose Lake Golf Course on May 9 to encourage her brother, Ben - a member of the Fairmont varsity boys team - during the Cardinal Invitational.
"I'll probably just play in some tournaments - nothing major," Rosol said on her golf future.




