Poland’s Angela Molaskey joins YSU women’s golf team

By JOE SCALZO

scalzo@vindy.com

While playing a sport where the best players often start swinging a club in the crib, Angela Molaskey has become one of the more surprising Division I golfers you’ll ever hear about.

The Poland senior, who signed a letter-of-intent to play golf at YSU, played soccer growing up and didn’t even consider her future sport until Poland coach Judy Young visited her eighth-grade gym class.

“I thought it sounded interesting,” she said. “I asked my mom about it, signed up for lessons and gave it a try.”

It only took her one year to go from novice to varsity and Molaskey has spent the past three seasons as one of the Bulldogs’ best players. She placed 20th at this year’s state golf tournament to help Poland finish second in Division II — one year after placing 18th as an individual for the Bulldogs’ state championship team.

“She’s got such heart,” said Young. “She’s really worked hard at the game and she’s still got a lot of room to grow.

“She’s just an outstanding young lady.”

Molaskey is a three-time all-district selection and has lowered her nine-hole average from 43 to 40. She averages just above 80 for 18 holes and can shoot in the 70s, Young said.

She was the medalist for five dual matches this season.

“I think I have a good athletic background and that helped me a little bit,” said Molaskey. “Plus, I put a lot of work into it.”

That work was rewarded with a full-ride with the Penguins.

A 3.87 student, she plans to major in education at YSU and hopes to eventually get her PGA certification after college and go into coaching.

“I met with the girls [at YSU] and I really liked them,” said Molaskey. “I also knew the coach [Roseann Schwartz] and she’s a really nice lady, so I felt really comfortable.

“It was a pretty easy decision.”