Submitted Photo MSU women's golfer Katie McGlenen takes a swing at a meet earlier this past season. Photo by Marina McGlenen.

Katie McGlenen’s parents make every effort to support their daughter on the golf course. Over the past four years, the Minot State women’s golf team grew accustomed to seeing the jolly McGlenen crew cheer for the Beavers.

At a September tournament in Marshall, Minnesota, Marina and Steve McGlenen arrived with a special surprise for the team. After bringing a portable grill from Winnipeg, the family made burgers and chicken at a nearby park.

The dinner needed just a few more accessories to feel complete. While they cooked on the grill, Marina and Steve wore their chef hats.

“It was so much fun,” Katie McGlenen said. “It was a beautiful afternoon. We sat in the park for hours as a team with my family. Definitely one of my fondest memories from my senior year.”

Because her whole family golfs, McGlenen knew she would follow in her parents’ footsteps at an early age. She joined her father at the driving range when she started walking.

As she grew older, McGlenen developed a love for hockey. She enjoyed her role on the last line of defense, but golf remained a priority.

She started playing competitive golf when she turned 10 years old. While refining her skills as a teenager, she drew the interest of former MSU golf head coach Randy Westby.

McGlenen played hockey and golf at St. Mary’s Academy, but leaned toward golf near the end of high school. During her final year, she became a practice player on the ice.

“Ultimately, I ended up playing golf because you still have that team aspect where you’re trying to shoot a low score as a team,” McGlenen said. “At the end of the day, it’s kind of on you. You’re not relying on anybody else but yourself.”

Initially reluctant to visit Minot State, McGlenen took a leap of faith. When she arrived on campus, she envisioned a hand-in-glove fit.

“I kid you not, I think I looked at my parents and said, ‘Yeah, this is it,'” McGlenen said. “I didn’t even have to talk to anyone.”

After her visit, McGlenen made her decision. She signed with MSU in the fall of her senior year and braced herself for a shot at a new journey.

Family ties

If McGlenen’s parents did not voice their initial thoughts about Minot State, they would not have witnessed their daughter become one of the team’s most consistent players.

“My parents were like, ‘You know what, Katie?'” McGlenen said. “‘Just give it a try. Let’s go down and look. It’s a quick drive from home. If you don’t like it, at least we got to visit.'”

Since golf is a family affair for McGlenen, her parents made the choice easier. Those early days at the driving range established her love for the sport.

Her competitive nature affirmed her passion, but McGlenen also enjoys casual days on the golf course with her family.

“It’s just a really nice thing for us to get out, exercise and spend time together as a family,” McGlenen said. “That’s what makes me love golf so much.”

Her older sister, Nicole, also grew up playing golf. Nicole played collegiate hockey at the University of Manitoba, but Katie recognizes her sister’s talent on the course.

“I hate to say it, but she could probably beat me if she really tried,” Katie said.

The clan’s camaraderie has impacted MSU women’s golf coach Kyle Knutson. During his tenure, Knutson has seen the group foster a warm and friendly atmosphere.

“Sometimes, you hear about parents in a negative light,” he said. “With her parents, it’s just the opposite. They don’t put any pressure on her. They are there solely to support her. It’s really refreshing to see them there.”

Her senior season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but McGlenen took solace in her family’s generosity. When times became tough, she leaned on her crew.

“I honestly have the most amazing and supportive family in the entire world,” she said. “I would not be anywhere near where I am today without my mom, my dad and my sister. Whether the drive was six hours or 16 hours, they were there and supporting me.”

Through golf’s trials and tribulations, McGlenen has developed a steady demeanor. Her stability has proved critical to the Beavers’ success.

Maintaining composure

Because golf is a mentally taxing sport, McGlenen has developed a strategy to counteract that stress. When she hits the links, she maintains a poker face.

“I just tend to not really talk either way,” McGlenen said. “If I shoot 74 and someone asks me how I’m playing, I’ll say, ‘Yeah, it’s OK.’ If I’m shooting 85, it’s going to be the same thing.”

That mentality has helped McGlenen put the game in perspective.

“I try to laugh the bad shots off,” she said. “I try not to get too upset about it. At the end of the day, it is just a game. You never know when your last competitive round is going to be out there.”

Her last competitive round was a successful one. When the Beavers set a Division II school record with 299 team strokes en route to winning their final tournament in Las Vegas last month, McGlenen finished in an individual tie for eighth place.

“I shot 75 and had the time of my life,” she said. “I didn’t know it was my last round at the time, but I’m so glad that I went out and had fun. It’s something that I can look back on, which is great.”

Knutson acknowledged that golfers sometimes make the game harder than it should be. McGlenen’s poise has made an impression on her head coach.

“She knows how she is going to hit the ball,” Knutson said. “She sticks to it. She doesn’t try to do something that she’s not comfortable with on the golf course. That’s very valuable.”

In order to produce consistent results, McGlenen has worked on her putting. That part of her repertoire was not fully developed before college, but she recognized its importance at MSU.

After seeing some of her competition, McGlenen came to a realization. She needed to improve her short game.

“There are some unbelievable girls in our conference,” McGlenen said. “They hit it dead straight. They hit it 300 yards. I don’t know how. I have to compensate in other ways, because I can’t quite do that yet.”

That respect for others carries through to the other avenues of McGlenen’s life. When she chose her career path, she had the world’s posterity in mind.

Mentoring youth

As an elementary education major, McGlenen enjoyed opportunities to connect with the younger generation. Recently, she accepted a job as a fifth-grade teacher in Max.

She plans to begin teaching after she graduates in May.

“I just can’t wait to have my own classroom, have my own kids and get to teach them,” McGlenen said.

Juggling her responsibilities as an MSU student-athlete taught McGlenen a variety of important lessons. She takes pride in her collegiate accomplishments

“I made it work,” McGlenen said. “It was hard, but I think it taught me time management, responsibility and taking ownership for your actions. It’s all about choices. You have to make choices with everything in your life.”

After watching McGlenen interact with her teammates and family, Knutson developed an inkling for her success in the classroom.

“She’s got a great passion for it and she loves it,” he said. “I think she’s going to do very well. She’s got a maturity about her that’s going to cross over very well into the professional world.”

As her college career winds down, McGlenen reflected upon her fond memories.

“I’m so grateful for how well everything worked out for me,” she said. “Honestly, I can say coming to Minot State was the best decision I have ever made in my life. I’m very happy with how everything turned out.”

All she needed was some encouragement from her family to visit Minot.

Jimmy Lafakis covers Minot High School sports and Class B high school sports. Follow him on Twitter @JJLII30.