College Golfer Drives to Succeed

22-year-old California State University of San Marcos student Hannah Anderson has been a San Diego Country Estates resident for 17 years and loves to golf. "I have been around golf since I was 6," says Anderson. "My dad introduced me at a young age. I loved to ride in the cart and chase bunnies." She played in a few tournaments before high school and then played every golf season. She started to golf seriously during COVID when all other sports were canceled.

Anderson practices at the San Vicente Golf Resort, Shadowridge Golf Club, and several courses all over San Diego. She plays for Cal State San Marcos, and they are ranked 7th nationally. They compete all over the country; she played in the regionals and traveled to Florida for nationals in 2024. The team won the HPU Sharks Shootout tournament in Hawaii in October 2024, where Anderson had her first top-ten placement in college golf.

"My biggest achievement was playing in the National Preview in October of 2024," says Anderson. When she got to the last hole, she knew her score and her opponent's—the Dallas Baptist University player with her—were the only two scores left to be entered. "The teams were tied -33 to -33, and I knew it was me against her," says Anderson. She scrambled all around that hole and had to make an up and down for a par. She sunk a pressure 6-footer for a par and ended up 3-putting for a bogey. That was the first time her team beat DBU in 6 years. Cal State San Marcos women's golf team destroyed the program's 54-hole tournament record with a 34-under 830 (279-270-281), recording a one-stroke victory over top-ranked Dallas Baptist University at the National Preview in Boulder City, Nevada.

"The best piece of advice I've ever received was when I was playing in regionals, which was the first time I played as part of the top 5," says Anderson. "I was super nervous, and Coach Hutton walked with me and told me that I just needed to go out there and play a round of golf." He said what she was nervous about was the hype behind what she was doing. He helped separate her from the tournament and taught her to just have fun instead of worrying about everyone's expectations and being nervous about her performance.

Anderson says it sounds repetitive, but she has found the mental aspect of the game to be the hardest part. She has learned that course management is tied into the mental toughness of the game. There are times you have to "take your medicine" and not go after a pin or get yourself out of trouble.

In addition to golf, she played softball at SD Mesa College and was two-time All-PCAC first team. Her career batting average (.432) is the second highest in SD Mesa history. "Batted .461 my freshman year - fourth best in single season record book at SD Mesa," adds Anderson.

Her favorite subject in school is communications, and she enjoys playing pickleball, softball, and snowboarding. She also enjoys art and video creation. She is majoring in media studies, and after college she is interested in becoming a swing coach or creating a golf brand and doing something in social media management. "I want to help young girls and women learn the game of golf and help them fall in love with the game," says Anderson.

The opportunities are endless for this golfer who has already demonstrated tremendous potential and dedication on the course.

Photos courtesy of Hannah Anderson.