ETSU women’s golf standout Tereza Melecka (Belcovice, Czech Republic) is on top of her game, both on and off the course.
Melecka started playing golf when she was 7 years old. Her grandparents started playing and then taught her parents, who then taught Melecka and her brother.
“When me and my brother were kids, we tried gold and we enjoyed it and we liked it, so we started practicing,” Melecka said. “In the beginning, it was just kids playing and then when I was about 12 or 13, I was like ‘Oh, okay, I actually want to do this.’ From then, I just started practicing hard and playing, and here I am.”
Melecka has been playing for the Bucs since the 2017-18 season and has marked her way through the years. This year, her senior year, despite dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, Melecka was named the Southern Conference Player of the Year, as well as SoCon Golfer of the Month and SoCon Player of the Week in the month of March.
“In the beginning of the season, it’s always a little slow because of the winter break, and last year I was a little stressed because I want to turn professional and everything was piling up, having to do this and that,” Melecka said. “And this year, I wanted to do and play my game and stick with the process. It’s been good so I’m trying to just stay like that, and we’ll see.”
Melecka is the second person in the program history at ETSU to earn SoCon Player of the Year, alongside former teammate and current graduate assistant Hee Ying Loy. This season, Melecka held a 73.13 stroke average — out of the eight tournaments played, she finished in the top-10 six times and in the top-five four times.
“I just love the game, I love to be outside, I love to practice and play and compete,” Melecka said. “I really enjoy playing with our team. I am trying to help everyone and lead them. We are helping each other and we are a really good team this year. These girls are great and it means a lot. I think this year is the best team that we have, friends and golfers.”
The two-day SoCon Championship tournament, played in Kiawah Island, South Carolina, left the Bucs feeling frustrated after day one.
“When we were going for the tournament, I was practicing hard before but I just didn’t feel it,” Melecka said. “I just tried to stick with the process and the mindset and be focused. The first round, I didn’t start that great. I made a few bogeys, so I was three over. And then I was just like trust yourself and stick with the process, because golf is about trust and I made some birdies and that brought me back. Finished the first round minus 171.”
The second round was also played on the first day, and after a long and tiring day, the team pulled through and were at an advantage for day two and the final round.
“We were a little nervous and we wanted to win so bad for the third round. I think everyone started okay, I was again plus three and I was like girl you’ve got to do something with it, the team is counting on you,” Melecka said. “I went back to my process, and I made an eagle and I made three consecutive birdies. It was tough, but we made it.”
In addition to her successes on the golf course, Melecka has graduated from ETSU this spring, and is coming back for a fifth year with the team, planning to begin her Master of Business Administration degree in the fall.
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