Xavier Prep has produced a long list of outstanding golfers
over the years. Some of the more noteworthy names are Amanda Blumenhurst,
Cheyenne Woods, Kimberly Kim, Madison Kerley and Alicia Snyder.
But the one who just might wind up being the best of all is
a freshman at XCP this year – Ashley Menne.
So what makes her so special?
She was the co-medalist (with teammate Elizabeth Caldarelli
and Chandler Hamilton’s Hannah Li) at the recent state tournament won by the
Gators.
She aleady has participated in numerous national tournaments
and recently was named to the Rolex Junior All-American team (honorable
mention) as the only golfer from Arizona. Menne also played in the Polo Junior
Golf Classic in Florida, where she was one of the nation’s top 16 golfers in
the match-play event.
Menne is a finalist for the azcentral.com Golfer of the Year and was the Player of the Year in the Junior Golf
Association of Arizona in 2013, 2014, 2015 and the girls’ Championship Division
in 2016.
It is an understatement to say that Menne is busy.
In addition to maintaining a top-notch grade-point average,
she has a lengthy trip from and to Surprise in the northwest Valley every day.
When she is not playing in tournaments for Xavier, she takes lessons at the
Falcon Dunes Golf Course near Luke Air Force Base.
Ask Menne about the key to her success and her answer is
simple.
“I just go out there and try my best,’’ she said. “You can
have expectations, but I try not to think too much. I just go out and play
golf.’’
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Xavier Prep golfer Ashley Menne. |
Long-time Xavier golf coach and athletic director Sr. Lynn
Winsor marvels at how Menne maintains an even keel.
“She is really serious about golf, and if you watch her out
on the course, you would never know if she is winning or losing,’’ Winsor said.
Menne has a similar approach in the classroom, instilled in
her by her mother, Alicia.
“I have all A’s so far. I don’t like getting B’s,’’ Menne
said.
She enjoys her Chinese language course (Mandarin) and for
good reason. Her mother is from China and Ashley was born in Singapore.
Ashley’s father, Carl, is from Pennsylvania, and the family lived in Singapore
before moving to Arizona when Ashley was 5. Her father came here due in part to
his job with an aircraft company.
Menne enjoys the athletic and academic atmosphere at Xavier.
“I never really played in a team atmosphere before this
year. Playing with the girls on the team has been a lot of fun. They are great,’’
she said. “I already knew some of them from playing in tournaments (non-Xavier)
together.’’
She became interested in golf when her father and her
brother, John (he attends Goodyear Millennium) played in Singapore.
“It just stuck with me and I have had fun with it along the
way,’’ she said.
What puts her within reach of the top in most tournaments,
she said, is driving the ball straight off the tee and with good distance.
On Wednesday (Dec. 1), Menne was invited to another
prestigious national tournament, named after former University of Arizona
golfer Annika Sorenstam. It will be played Feb. 17-20 in Reunion, Fla.
Expect her to meet the challenge head-on, as she always has
done.
“Playing in these tournaments is a good experience,’’ she
said. “I want to play well, and leave the course knowing I gave it all I had.’’
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