Photo Courtesy of Susquehanna Athletics
By Thamoda Haputhanthri
First-year phenom Kennedy Petrovich has been gaining traction and breaking records for the women’s golf team, becoming the first female golfer in school history to medal at every event.
Petrovich started young as a multi-sport athlete, aspiring to play softball in college but ultimately found her true passion to be on the golf course rather than the softball diamond.
“Competing in golf is like no other sport and that is what sets it apart from softball,” Petrovich said.
From nearby Shamokin, she honed her skills on the green of Indian Hills Golf Club. She attributed the growth in her game to both her father and grandfather, who were her biggest supporters throughout her golf journey.
She also found time to play seven soccer games for Shamokin in the fall of her senior year before slugging six home runs and batting .625 in the spring softball season, earning her News-Item Female Athlete of the Year honors.
Recruited by many schools, Susquehanna wasn’t near the top of Petrovich’s list until Aaron Ettinger became the head women’s golf coach in October 2023. Ettinger is also an assistant coach for women’s basketball at SU.
“When [Ettinger] reached out and asked if I would be interested in another visit to Susquehanna, I jumped on the opportunity and never looked back,” she said.
Once Petrovich arrived on campus, it didn’t take long for her to make an impact. She shot a 74 in the season opener at Susquehanna Valley Country Club, breaking the program record.
“I honestly did not expect to make such an immediate impact on the program, I surprised myself,” Petrovich said. “The team culture is so comforting and builds confidence quickly. Being on the course and knowing my team has my back makes it for a more enjoyable experience.”
Kennedy Petrovich broke the school shooting record again with a one-under 71 at Wilkes, later earning the title of Landmark Conference Athlete of the Week after shooting a 74 with four birdies and seven pars against Kings, but one of her more memorable moments was on the seventeenth hole at Shawnee.
With a putt that could tie her for first place, her coach, who had missed the same putt multiple times before, offered his advice: “It’s going to break more than you think.” Petrovich nailed the putt, then turned to her coach with a smile and said, “You sucking just might have won me this tournament.”
Petrovich’s impressive victories in individual and team events have not only marked milestones in her career, but they’ve also opened new doors for her team.
“It is such an amazing feeling to have won those events, but because of winning those events as an individual and as a team, we got invited to events this spring with better competition,” she said. “I would rather compete against the best in the nation than win a title every time.”