Top golfer Gemma Dryburgh drives for excellence
A native of Aberdeen, Scotland, Gemma Dryburgh grew up playing golf with her father and has achieved many honors during her Tulane University career. Her academic performance also has been strong; she is a three-time member of the Conference USA Commissioner"s Honor Roll and the Tulane 3.0 Club. (Photo by Parker Waters)
Gemma Dryburgh, a native of Aberdeen, Scotland, who began playing golf there with her father, has helped propel the Green Wave women"s golf team to a No. 26 national ranking. The senior"s collegiate career is coming to a close but she has another opportunity to be on the links for Tulane University in her fourth-straight trip to the NCAA Regionals starting on Thursday (May 7).
The marketing major has excelled both in the classroom and in her sport at Tulane. Dryburgh recently was named to the 2015 American Athletic Conference women"s golf all-conference team, her fourth selection.
“The most rewarding part of being a student athlete has been the opportunity to represent Tulane at other events and places. I am very proud of my school,” she says. She especially enjoys the social aspect of golf, both at Tulane where she has become very close with her teammates, and at the numerous tournaments she has attended, making friends from across the world.
The talented golfer was an avid soccer player until she moved from Scotland to Florida in high school to attend IMG Academy, and began concentrating on golf. By her senior year there she had been recruited by many universities, but decided on Tulane for its smaller size, location in New Orleans and general atmosphere.
Dryburgh says she also enjoys the constant striving for perfection that golf requires. Her pursuit for excellence will continue after her May 16 graduation. She plans on returning to Scotland before making her way to qualifying school, where aspiring professional golfers go to qualify for the Ladies Professional Golf Association.
She hopes that this will lead to an opportunity to play in the LGPA, and later, to potentially build a career in sports marketing. She says she will miss the team aspect of collegiate golf, but she is “excited for the challenge of competing against other professional players.”
The 2015 Commencement ceremony will be streamed live online. Follow us on social media at #tulane15.
Hannah Dean is a sophomore majoring in Latin American studies and political science at Tulane University.
“The most rewarding part of being a student athlete has been the opportunity to represent Tulane … I am very proud of my school.”—Gemma Dryburgh, senior and golf team member
