EMMA KAISA BUNCH first picked up a golf club at age nine and was already playing in European tournaments at 13. But she was far from an instant success. “I got last every time,” recalls the New Mexico State University senior of those early competitions. Part of a family of golfers, the Finland-born Dane worked on her game to have more fun on the course with them. “My older brother was really good,” she says. That motivation helped her earn a spot on Denmark’s national team at 17 and a scholarship offer from NMSU golf coach Danny Bowen. Last summer, the biochemistry major earned the Dinah Shore Trophy Award as the nation’s top collegiate female golfer for her academic excellence, record of leadership, and performance on the course. “We got $10,000 for the golf program,” she says of the award. “It’s so great being able to contribute.” Ranked 61st in the world among amateur female golfers, Bunch has a scoring average of 70, a 4.0 grade point average, and a passion for coaching youth. 

I really like the mental side of golf. You can always improve. There’s no point where you’re as good as you can get. You can always get better. 

When I was 16, I started playing international tournaments. That’s when I got introduced to the thought of going to the U.S. for college.  

Danny Bowen was my first talk with any coach. We have similar values. Coach Bowen wanted me to study what made me happy, and I wanted somewhere sunny and hot and perfect for golf. 

My family tries to come at least once per semester during a tournament. It’s been awesome to have that support as an international player.  

I’m thankful for FaceTime. I call my parents daily.  

Through collegiate golf, I get to see different cities, types of grass on the course, and weather conditions.  

In the spring, we play four or five tournaments plus the conference tournament in April. 

We have fields of 100 people. Most people don’t win at all in college. If you do, you win one, two, maybe three tournaments.  

I’ve won eight tournaments now. 

I finished tied for 11th place at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur, which is the biggest amateur tournament for the top 72 female golfers. 

I want to turn pro next year, but I still want to have fun with it. To get good, you need to enjoy the grind.  

I love practicing—almost more than competition.  

I earned conditional status for Epson Tour, where you’re able to qualify directly for the LPGA. Hopefully, I can get my LPGA card. 

I’ve learned to be patient in golf. I’ve been working with a mental coach in Denmark, learning strategies like using my senses as an anchor to be present. 

It’s fun seeing kids just enjoy golf and showing them you can go really far with golf. 

I love New Mexico’s growing golf scene. It’s a great spot to play golf.  

Turtleback Mountain in T or C is so amazing now. They had the New Mexico Open there. It’s in amazing condition.  

People treat me like I’m the star of Las Cruces. They’ve taken me as their own.