Bailey signs with Valparaiso University for golf

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS

Sports Editor, RTC

Rochester senior Olivia Bailey signs with Valparaiso University to continue her academic and golf careers. Sitting – Olivia. Back, from left – Dan Bailey, Rochester girls golf coach and Olivia’s father; Emily Bailey, Olivia’s mother; Grant Bailey, Olivia’s twin brother.

Rochester senior Olivia Bailey has signed with Valparaiso University to continue her academic and golf careers less than two months after finishing in a tie for eighth at the IHSAA state finals.

Bailey also made the state finals as an individual in 2023 as part of the Rochester team in 2024.

She was a two-time sectional champion and a three-time regional champion.

Valparaiso is an NCAA Division I school and a member of the Missouri Valley Conference.

She said she wants to major in mechanical engineering.

She said the campus is “pretty small” and said she liked that. She also liked building a relationship with coach Jill McCoy.

“It just really felt right to me when I visited the campus,” Bailey said. “I really liked it, and the coach was really nice. She made sure I knew that I would be really valued on the team, and I really liked all their facilities, and they have a really good engineering program.”

Bailey was asked how important it was that her school have a good engineering program.

“It was probably the most important thing because I’m wanting to major in mechanical engineering,” Bailey said. “I just really liked their engineering program, and I was really glad it was a good fit. … I don’t really know what I want to do with that yet, but I’d really like to do something in the golf world if that’s possible.”

Bailey played for coach Chad Thomas her first three years of high school. Her father Dan replaced Thomas after Thomas stepped down following the 2024-25 season.

Another instructor who has impacted Bailey’s career is Brad Fellers, the Rochester native and PGA Professional who provides individualized coaching with the Elevation Golf Academy based out of Carmel.

Fellers attended Bailey’s signing ceremony at the high school.

“I was glad that he was able to be here,” Bailey said. “He’s meant a lot to me my entire golf journey. He’s helped me a lot, so I was really glad he could be here.”

Bailey said she verbally committed to Valparaiso during the summer. She said the hardest part of the recruiting process was getting coaches to respond to her after her initial inquiries whether those coaches would be interested in her.

She also said she received some letters of rejection from coaches.

“But once I found Valpo, it’s kind of instant,” Bailey said. “I knew I wanted to go there, so I was glad to find out where I wanted to go somewhat early.”