Cassie Tasney / USCB Transfer Portal College GPA: 3.53 '21 Recruiting Profile

My name is Cassie Tasney and I just completed my sophomore golf season at the University of South Carolina-Beaufort which is right down the road from Hilton Head Island.  We just returned from our 2nd consecutive year playing in the NAIA Women's Golf Championship (2022 in Oklahoma City / 2023 just outside Chicago).  Due to reasons out of my controI, I decided it is best for my future to enter the transfer portal and take a gap year.  USCB is moving from NAIA to NCAA Division II and their athletic teams will be on temporary probation for the next 2 years, which will not permit our golf team to compete for conference or national championships. I also believe I need a change in majors that USCB doesn’t offer which would benefit my future plans in the golf profession. I love my teammates, the university, my job, and my church that I attend in the local Hilton Head community.  I loved it so much that my family moved down to be close to me, but they fully support my decision to enter the portal and take a gap year while taking my game to a higher level and saving some money where I wouldn't have to work so many hours while attending my next school.  I have a dream of playing golf professionally or at least becoming a high level club professional. I have no doubts in my potential based on some of my rounds during my career at USCB.  I had some untimely illnesses and back/hip issues during the last 2 years that affected some of my events, but I never missed one event and my score counted in every round played for USCB over the last 2 years. I'm looking forward to making permanent swing changes with my swing instructor, Dan Jackson at Hilton Head Lakes. I’m excited to take the next year to improve and make significant changes to my overall game.

Collegiate Low Round:  70

Collegiate best 36-hole Tournament:  Tied 3rd (75 -71 / 146) - College of Coastal Georgia Invite 17 teams.

Collegiate best 54-hole Tournament: (75-75-79 / 229) - 2022 NAIA Women’s National Championship, Oklahoma City

Collegiate Best Dual Match Finish: 1st match with Savannah State University (75) 

BELOW IS AN EDITED VERSION OF THE ORIGINAL HIGH SCHOOL RECRUITING LETTER THAT GIVES YOU SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

I was a 2021 graduate at Pickerington North High School which is just east of Columbus, Ohio.  I’m the 3rd of 6 children and have 3 brothers and 2 sisters between the ages of 13 and 24 years old. We are all golfers and love to play and compete at the highest level.  My dad was a teaching professional when he was younger and he was the one who taught all of us when we started the game.  My older brother Joshua is earning his PGA Certification while employed with the Columbus Municipal Golf Courses.  My older sister Caitlyn played some college golf at Northern Kentucky University and Taylor University, but decided to transfer to Ohio State University to complete a degree in PGA Professional Golf Management where she has interned for the last 2 years at New Albany Country Club.  They have both passed their Player Ability Tests, and are now working towards passing their tests to receive their Class A PGA Cards.  My 17 year old sister (just finished her junior year) and 15 year old brother (just finished his freshman year) both play high school golf at South Effingham High School  in Guyton, GA and plan on playing in college.  My youngest brother Jonah is 13 years old and just competed in his first year of competitive golf at his middle school.     

We grew up in Jacksonville, FL before moving to Ohio in 2013.  When I was about 6 years old, my dad started letting me hit golf balls, but only if I followed his instructions.  He said kids are like a piece of fresh clay, so right from the beginning we all had perfect grips and setups at a very young age.  It made it easier for the swing instructors to take over knowing they didn't have to start right from the beginning. They always asked my dad why he didn't continue teaching us.  They all said he was doing a great job, but he just worked with us for a while then moved on to the younger siblings one at a time.  

Joshua, Caitlyn and I are martial artists and obtained multiple black belts in both Tang Soo Do and Taekwondo.  Our parents never pushed us into the game of golf, but they did get us all involved in martial arts.  They thought it was great for our conditioning and self-confidence to achieve black belts.  There are a lot of martial arts schools in this country, but very few make you earn your black belt like KTA Florida.  Our martial arts school was very regimented, making it difficult to achieve black belt status.   My parents said we are not taking you somewhere that you can just show up and buy a black belt like some of the big karate franchises nationally.  Our school was highly competitive and we traveled quite a bit competing in local, national and international tournaments.  The reason we succeed playing golf is because of the indomitable spirit and perseverance required for both skill sets.  Successful golfers require a mental toughness that you find in martial artists like myself.     

I hope you continue to follow my progress on NCSA during the next year.  You will see that I have been pretty successful up to this point, but have every intention of taking my game to the highest skill level. One of my main junior goals include being one of the best players in the state of Ohio and anyone knows that when I set up a goal, I usually achieve it.  I know it will take hard work and determination to get where I want, but that is something I'm used to achieving.  I have a strong belief in myself and know I will be a great player, friend, and teammate for a women's college golf team.  You would rather have me on your team than try to face me several years from now.   Excited to see where these next several years take me.