Avery Struck, the sophomore golfer from Halfmoon Bay, is well on her way to recovery after a golfing accident last year traumatized the nerves in her left arm and left her psychologically shaken.
“She started out the season with a great tournament and she’s followed it up well with one top five and two top 10 finishes,” Avery’s father, Tim Struck, said. “Her elbow is healed from the surgery, but she still has no feeling in her pinky and ring finger in her left hand, just below her wrist. So it’s mending, but it’s a slow process.”
Avery recently returned from a tournament in Puerto Rico on Oct. 27 where she carded an 84 in her final round to finish with a 17-over 158. This got her a tie for 15th out of 69 players.
Avery’s family joined her for the University of Illinois Springfield Island Getaway tournament at the Ocean Course at Rio Mar Country Club in Puerto Rico.
“We went down and stayed in the same resort they were staying at. After day one she was in second place by one stroke. She finished the tournament in 15th. She ran into a couple of snags,” Tim said. “But it’s very good news. She enjoyed herself.”
Avery also did quite well at the Great American Conference Preview tournament in Oklahoma City on Oct. 13. She shot a 75 and finished in a tie for sixth at 7-over 151. Her team, the Golden Suns, beat Henderson State for the team title.
Avery was interviewed about the GAC Preview by her school – Arkansas Tech – when she was named athlete of the week on Oct. 22.
“It was great, we went out there, we were pumped to do it and we succeeded and we won. It was an awesome feeling,” Avery said.
“The golf course was set up beautifully for all of us. We really worked hard the week before, getting back into the team that we are here to be,” she said. “I unfortunately left a few strokes out there, but we had the rest of the team to pick up the strokes.”
Avery transferred to Arkansas Tech from West Texas A&M after her accident. Tim said she is settling in well both athletically and academically. Avery is studying marketing management and hopes to get a master’s degree in business and eventually go on to law school.
