SOUTH BEND, Ind. — She may have graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 2012, but at times it feels like Becca Huffer (Denver, Colorado) never left.
“I was looking at a bunch of schools for golf and academics,” said Huffer, the 2009 Big East Freshman of the Year. “It was one where it really ended up being my best fit. Super comfortable here, great facilities, great opportunities. There’s nothing I can complain about, even coming back six years later.”
The four-time All-Big East honoree returns this week to the town that is her second home, only as a professional competing in the 7th annual Four Winds Invitational from June 8-10 at Blackthorn Golf Club.
She’ll have familiar company by her side. Notre Dame women’s golf associate head coach Kyle Lynne Demeter is hosting Huffer during her stay. In addition, head coach Susan Holt is more than likely to wander out to the course during the tournament and support her former team captain.
“I never played full-time, like all throughout the year, before I went to college, so I learned a lot about my golf game at Notre Dame,” said Huffer, who had her best finish at the Four Winds Invitational in 2014 when she tied for 19th. “Got a lot more reps in, learned a lot about the mental side of things and how to hang in there.”
Huffer is the most recent member of her family to graduate from Notre Dame in what is a long lineage of Fighting Irish faithful. Her mom Mary was a part of the 1979 class, while her older brother Chris finished his program in 2009. Meanwhile, Huffer’s younger brother Zach is set to start his senior year this fall.
That’s just the immediate family. Huffer also has several uncles and cousins that attended Notre Dame, as well as aunts that went to Saint Mary’s College, but married Notre Dame graduates. So, it must only be natural that Rudy is near the top on her list of favorite movies.
“Probably in the double digits,” Huffer said laughingly about how many times she has seen the cinematic classic. “I watched it more when I was younger.”
In her fifth year on the Epson Tour and third season competing full-time, Huffer still recalls some of her greatest memories as a student-athlete like it was yesterday. From guiding the Fighting Irish to a NCAA Championships appearance as a junior, to simply enjoying the campus, the tradition of such a prestigious institution never escapes her.
“My senior year, we had a really small team with only five of us, but we all got along really great,” said Huffer, who finished her Notre Dame career with a 75.19 stroke average. “Just felt close with them the whole year and I got to be a senior leading the young ones along. On the other end, probably mostly getting to hang out with friends because I was gone so much. Also spent a lot of time around St. Mary’s and St. Joseph’s lake(s), riding my bike when I needed some peaceful time away.”
With a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Industrial Design, Huffer has a bright future whenever she decides to turn in the clubs for a million-dollar invention. For now though, it’s all about playing the game she loves and continuing to showcase what it means to be a graduate of the University of Notre Dame.
“I grew a lot I think during my college experience which helped me turning pro,” Huffer said. “If you’re not learning something when you’re golfing, there’s something wrong. It was a great experience between golf and school.”
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