Joy Replaces Sorrow For Defending State Women's Mid-Amateur Champion Katie Woodruff

Golf has always been a vital component of Katie Woodruff’s life story, first as a player, then as a college coach and now as a wife and mother.

At one time, it claimed too much leverage over her identity and emotions. But through tragic circumstances, evolving maturity and a caring husband to balance her emotions, she is now truly mastering her relationship with the game better than ever.

This time last year, golf served as a temporary escape for Woodruff from the agonizing reality of her sorrow. After returning to competitive golf in 2022 following a six-year sabbatical, it provided a brief respite to allow her broken heart to continue to heal following the unspeakable pain wrought by the death of her daughter prior to her scheduled delivery the previous March.

After playing collegiately at the University of Louisville, Woodruff’s competitive drive returned enough to win the 2023 Tennessee Women’s Mid-Amateur championship for her first win since 2016. But once the tournament was over and the celebration faded, Woodruff and her husband, Blaine, were left with the somber stillness of their pain as they returned to their home and its empty nursery.

As this year’s Tennessee Women’s Mid-Amateur tournament commences on Tuesday along with the Women’s Senior and Super Senior State Amateur events, Woodruff finds herself sorting through a different sort of sadness. But this variety is easily managed and temporary, wrapped in layers of mercy and grace as she reflects back on the past 18 months.

Woodruff will not defend her title from last year because of the birth of her son, Maverick, nine weeks ago. While she had originally intended to be among the competitors at Franklin Bridge Golf Club for the 36-hole event, her life has now taken on an entirely different trajectory.

“During the whole pregnancy with Maverick, my plan was to make it back for the Tennessee Mid-Am,” Woodruff said. “While my game is definitely ready to defend, I want to enjoy little Maverick in this stage as much as possible. I’m bummed I am not going to play, but I’ll be back next year. Golf will always be there for me.”

Navigating through another pregnancy was an emotional journey for the Woodruffs. Their brief memories of their beloved daughter, Riley Grace, were still vivid, and the void left by her death a daily reminder of the frailty of life.

When Maverick arrived in July, there were complications with the development of his lungs that required an extended stay in the neonatal intensive care unit. Once again, the Woodruff faced the vulnerability experienced the previous year at the same hospital.

“We were in the NICU for 13 days with Maverick,” Woodruff said. “Every day we walked in, we had a direct view of the room where we were told Riley didn’t have a heartbeat. Just when I thought I knew how to trust God after these last 15 months, it brought back all the emotions of losing her on top of having to completely surrender Maverick.

“There was so much fear and anxiety during those days. but walking out of that hospital finally with a baby in our arms was the greatest feeling of God’s love, grace, and faithfulness I’ve ever experienced. Not a day goes by that I don’t think of Riley Grace, mostly because I am reminded of her when I look at Maverick. They definitely have some similarities, which is so sweet.”

Blaine Woodruff, the men’s head golf coach at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga after winning a national championship while serving as an assistant coach at Pepperdine University, shared a transparent first-person reflection of the immense sorrow they were enduring. In a story published on Golf Channel’s digital platform (Woodruff's Golf Channel Story of Loss and Hope), the couple invited the public into their suffering while articulating how they believed God would somehow redeem their pain.

Katie Woodruff was also well-connected through her coaching stops at Pepperdine – where she met Blaine – as well as Southern Cal prior to their move to Chattanooga in 2022. She helped coach the women’s team at Cal last fall, and is currently a part-time coach with the University of North Georgia this year.

“Golf has been an amazing outlet for me and I am incredibly grateful for the golf community that has stood by us and encouraged us across the country,” Katie said. “It has also given me a platform to share our testimony with friends and people we don’t know who have experienced loss and tough times and are wondering if God is good and faithful.

“Golf used to be an idol for me in college and shortly after I graduated. I obsessed over my game. But now I see golf as an avenue to use the gifts God has given me to share the good news of what he has done for us. I no longer have to play golf - I get to play it. Thankfully, Maverick loves being outside on the golf course already.”

Balancing the rigors of the upcoming season for his Mocs with being a new father has been seamless for Blaine Woodruff.

“Everybody told me that being a father is the greatest thing in the world, and it is,” Blaine said. “It reminds me of going to Augusta (National Golf Club) the first time. It's the one place that lives up to all the hype. And being a parent definitely lives up to all the hype, too. Every day is a new journey, but it's so rewarding. It helps put everything in perspective.”

Through the couple’s chosen career in college coaching, Katie Woodruff is grateful for the extended family that has emerged through their profession.

“Being a mom and a supporting wife to Blaine through his travels and schedule always comes first,” Katie said. “But he has been amazing at juggling a new season while building in time for me to take care of me and my passions. Maverick is in for an adventure of a lifetime with his many uncles and nieces on our respective teams and going to so many new places.”

With Woodruff opting out of this year’s Mid-Amateur Championships, the defending champions in the Tennessee Women’s Senior and Super Senior divisions are among the field at Franklin Bridge.

Senior champion Leslie Letner of Crossville claimed her first Tennessee Golf Association title last year in a playoff over defending champion Rhonda Switzer-Nadasdi. Gena Ridings of Franklin won the Super Senior title by two strokes over Chattanooga’s Patty Donahoo in the event hosted by The Ooltewah Club in 2023.

Paul Payne can be emailed at paulpayne6249@gmail.com