To borrow a phrase from the NCAA, Austin Peay has more than 300 student-athletes and just about all of them will be going pro in something other than sports. Over the years, several of Austin Peay's departed student-athletes have gone on to big things in their chosen field… Staci Lynch is one such person. The Clarksville native, who is a former OVC Freshman Golfer of the Year and All-OVC performer, is now a First Lieutenant in the Army, currently stationed in Jordan

On the golf course, Staci Lynch was known for one thing—other than outstanding play—and that was those usually large dangling earrings—they were her trademark. Many often wondered how she wore them while playing a sport that requires such intense concentration.

Off the course, add lipstick and trendy high heel shoes to the ensemble….and that was Staci Lynch.

Now you find the local native and former Lady Govs golf star wearing Army fatigues, or perhaps in 1^st Lt. Lynch's case, "battledress."

She recently was in Clarksville on leave, visiting family and friends while also being honored for her service at this year's F&M Bank APSU Intercollegiate at the Clarksville Country Club.

"I put in earrings (before coming home) and my ears were not used to them at all," Lynch laughingly said. "I used to wear earring all the time. When I knew I was coming to this (banquet), I knew I had to wear APSU colors, red lipstick…and big earrings."

Often you hear about athletes entering the military…former football and baseball historically have been known to serve in the military as has track performers. But a golfer, a women's golfer for that matter, in the military is about as likely as a Cardinals fan rooting for the Cubs in the postseason. And in Lynch's case—it literally caught literally everyone off guard.

After changing majors a few times, Lynch settled on mass communications while she completed an impressive college golf career, one that included two medalist honors as well as being named All-Ohio Valley Conference along with OVC Freshman of the Year. She still holds the APSU record for lowest two-round score (140) and is tied for the lowest 18 (69). Lynch seemingly was on course to play professionally…but that changed.

After graduating in 2010, she returned to school with the plan of entering the ROTC program to enter the medical field until then-Captain Amy Buck, of the APSU ROTC program, convinced her instead to talk to a military recruiter.

"Honestly, I always wanted to go back and get my nursing degree or do something medical," Lynch said. "I was reading all the options nurses had, numerous ones. I came across the (Army) nursing corps and something struck me. I always thought it would be an awesome thing to do...to give back.

"As successful as I was with certain parts of my golfing career, it wasn't enough. I needed to see what else I was good at. Not to downplay anything anyone else does, because I would never do that—I have great respect for everyone who plays the game, professionally, college or as amateurs—but at the end of the day (golf) was not enough for me. I wanted to be part of something bigger."

"During college, Staci never once mentioned joining the Army," said friend and former Lady Govs teammate Catie (Tucker) Clinard. "And personally, I never saw it coming. There were times during her college career we thought she would go on and play professionally. She certainly had the work ethic to play at the next level. She worked harder than any other member of the Lady Govs during our time at Austin Peay. Coach (Sara Robson) would dismiss us from practice and Staci always stayed longer for extra swings. Not even darkness could stop her.

"However, Staci didn't want to be defined by her golf game. Because she was a local junior golf standout and worked at Clarksville Country Club, most people only knew Staci as the girl who played golf. Being her best friend, I knew this bothered her. I think everyone in Clarksville was shocked when she decided to join the Army. She certainly did not have to. She had a college degree, and could've pursued any career she wanted. But she CHOSE to serve in the United States Army. I think what most people didn't know about Staci was her desire to always want to do more in life. She wanted a deeper feeling of accomplishment, and what better way to fulfill this than serving your country."

Lynch did her basic training at Fort Jackson (Columbia, South Carolina) before attending Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning. Then it was off to Fort Sill (Lawton, Oklahoma) for Office Basic Leaders Course before being assigned to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and her subsequent deployment to Jordan. However, her intent to enter the medical field was sidetracked when the program was no longer offered as she entered Officer Candidate School. But that didn't deter Lynch.  

"I ended up in air defense," she said "But I am one of those who strongly believes you end up exactly where you are supposed to be. It has been good. The job itself is a lot more than air defense. It is managing soldiers. It is a people business, like golf and coaching."

Lynch comes from a large family of five sisters and one brother. She grew up on the local golf courses, including the Clarksville Country Club, but was never a "country club kid." She began working at a young age to help do her part in such a large family. But going from the golf course to an Army training course certainly was a lifestyle change. 

"It was a huge adjustment, at least in some respects," Lynch said. "Like in golf, in the military whatever you put into it you get out of it. In that respect it is very much the same. When I was younger, just like Catie (Clinard) and Chelsea (Harris Phillips), you have younger people looking up to you. In the Army, I have younger people looking up to me so I have to put enough work in them and the job to be able to get from them what I need from them. Just like (Lady Govs golf coach) Sara (Robson) expected us to work hard. She was the coach she was and we wanted to work hard for her."

Lynch seemingly always has been there for her siblings. In college, Lynch always was the mature one, the cool head, the one her teammates and friends looked to for answers and leadership. In 2008, she was named as the Ohio Valley Conference's female recipient of the NCAA Sportsmanship Award, an award based on character and integrity. Yet, she is the first to admit she encountered challenges as she assimilated into a leadership role in the military. 

"Even though you work (in college golf) as a team, golf is still an individual sport," Lynch said. "In some respects as an officer, or even as enlisted personnel, you have to work so much more as a team. You have to collaborate with people and communicate well to those above you and below you and those with the same rank. I always believe I got along with people and communicated well, but always had a difficult time working with people Delegating is horrible, horrible discipline of mine."

She credits one of her commanders, Captain Brandon Thompson, for helping her grow as a leader. Married to a female captain, Thompson has keen insight to challenges of women in today's new Army.

"He is just a phenomenal commander…you wanted to do well (for him)," Lynch said. "He told me I needed to learn how to delegate, that it is one of your weaknesses. 'You need to work a little better with your peers. You can't try to do everything yourself or you or not going to be successful in this job.'"

In fact, Thompson made sure Lynch understood the pratfalls of her service but also laid out a game plan that would help his protégé succeed.  

"Captain Thompson, told me the first day 'You are a female and it is going to be hard for you. You are going to have to work harder. You are going to have to prove yourself. You are not going to be as strong or fast, but as long you just keep on keeping on, you will be fine. At the same time people are going to look at you differently.'"

That advice has helped Lynch cope with her Jordan deployment, where somewhat cool winter and spring temperatures are exchanged for intense heat and sandstorms during the summer months.   

"In Jordan right now it is five males to one female," Lynch said. "I believe I have earned the respect of most of the men I work with. Some of them are a little harder to earn their respect, especially those who have been in the Army a long time and miss the old Army. It is a new Army. I wasn't a part of the old Army but there are parts of the new Army I don't necessarily like. People should have to work for what they want. They are not entitled to it."

"In Jordan right now it is five males to one female," Lynch said. "I believe I have earned the respect of most of the men I work with. Some of the guys call me mom…I am only 27. Some of them are a little harder to earn their respect, especially those who have been in the Army a long time and miss the old Army. It is a new Army."

Back in May, Lynch actually took timeout to play her beloved sport, golf, in Amman, Jordan, at the country's only golf course, the Bisharat Golf Club.

"The course really doesn't have tee boxes—they give you hard Astroturf mats to hit from," Lynch said. "It also has no greens—they are called browns. It is real fine dirt or sand covered in oil. There was not a lot of grass. It is very hilly, though, but I grew up at Clarksville Country Club."

Almost as uncommon as the course was the fact a female, Lynch, was playing it.

"I guess it is an uncommon thing to have an American woman play golf in Jordan," she said. "They all wanted pictures or they wanted me to sign something for them. It was pretty cool."

Lynch's deployment to Jordan could end in December or January as she returns to Fort Bragg. Her three-year military contract commitment ends in February, and even though she has been working on her Master's online from Webster University (St. Louis) in international relations, Lynch has no plans to depart her service. Shortly after she returns to the states, another move—back to Fort Sill—will result her in being pinned captain in February 2017.

"Captain Thompson doesn't think you should act prematurely," she said. "Even though my contract ends in February, he said you have to do the command. So when I reach captain and take command position of a unit, he says that is when I will know, or at least have a better idea and understanding of what you want to do, what you want to get out of the Army."

Clinard, who made the near-impossible jump from APSU undergrad to being months away from completing her doctorate in neuroscience (and assistant professor of psychology at Dalton State)—doing it while also being a wife and mother, is in awe of her best friend's military commitment . 

"I watched Staci evolve into an independent woman while in college, and now I am watching her evolve into a great leader in the United States Army," Clinard said. "I know this immense amount of growth will only continue because she continues to be humble. She will not want any recognition or praise for her service because she serves for herself, not for the accolades.

"I am proud of Staci in many ways, but the moment when I was the proudest was when she followed her heart and made the sacrifice to serve our country. In my eyes this will always be her bravest decision."

-AP-