A Bulldog From The Very Beginning
October 22, 2023 | Women's Golf
Avery Weed is living out her dream at State.
STARKVILLE – There was never truly a doubt about where Avery Weed would choose to continue her prolific golf career at the collegiate level.
"It was always my goal and dream to come play golf [at Mississippi State]," Weed said. "It's really just been an honor and a blessing."
From a very young age, the Ocean Springs, Mississippi, native knew that she belonged in the Maroon and White. Weed grew up a few hundred miles from the university that she loved, but to her, it was a familiar place that brought out feelings of happiness. Perhaps most importantly, it felt like home for her and her family.
"My dad went to school here, and then his parents also went to school here," Weed said. "I've been a Mississippi State fan my whole life."
It's safe to say that all of the dreams Weed had as a little girl are coming true. She's finding success on the course for the Bulldogs, serving as an important contributor to the team as a true freshman.
In one of Weed's first college tournaments at the ANNIKA Intercollegiate, the standout carded an even-par score to finish in the Top 25 and tie for the best individual performance on the team. Her showing at the Blessings Collegiate Invitational in early October — a tournament in which she shot six strokes over par through two days of action — helped propel Mississippi State to a second-place finish.
The rookie has felt confident through her first few outings as a Bulldog, and that's only going to keep her motivated as her career continues.
"I think I've done pretty well," Weed said. "I'm glad to see that I've been playing in the tournaments and contributing to the team scores, and I'm pretty proud of what I've done so far."
Weed has had plenty of early success, but there are much higher goals that she wishes to accomplish as the year continues. Winning has always been in her nature — as shown by her victory in the Mississippi Women's Amateur over the summer — and the newcomer is determined to carry that with her as she navigates talented conference opponents.
"I'd like to get a couple of Top 10s individually in there and see if I can win a tournament and hopefully end with some sort of SEC honor at the end of the year," Weed said.
There's a big tournament on the horizon for Mississippi State, and it's one that every member of the team marks on their calendars each year. The Ally, named after legendary Bulldog and current LPGA athlete Ally Ewing, is hosted on the team's home course at Old Waverly Golf Club in West Point each year.
It's an event that draws in talented student-athletes and teams from across the region, and Weed explained that she and the team are looking forward to it.
"The Ally is going to be fun," Weed said. "Old Waverly is such a good golf course. We've been preparing really well."
The rising star also has a slight advantage over much of her competition. Old Waverly is a course on which she's reigned victorious many times, and there's no doubt that she has the potential to do that once again.
"I've played junior and amateur tournaments there previously, and I've had some success there," Weed said. "I think that I can do really well, and our team can also come up with a win, too."
In Weed's mind, the tournament is much more than just long drives and winding putts. Ewing has served as a role model for her. The pair have similar paths, growing up in Mississippi and continuing their college careers in Starkville, with one a renowned professional and the other hoping to move up to that level in the coming years. Years ago, the youngster watched as Ewing exceled for MSU and Weed envisioned herself in that position.
"Just keeping up with Mississippi State golf for several years, [Ewing's] always been a big role model for me, being from here and playing so well on the team," Weed said. "To play in this tournament in [Ewing's] honor is really special, and I just hope that I can do well and please her."
When Weed suits up and tees off on October 23, it will fulfill a dream that she's clung to since her childhood. Now, it's her time to shine at the place that has always held a special place in her heart.
