Thomas signs with Grace College for golf

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS

Sports Editor, RTC

Rochester junior Ava Thomas signs with Grace College to continue her golf and academic careers Thursday. From left – Cheri Thomas, Ava’s mother; Ava; Chad Thomas, Rochester’s coach and Ava’s father; Grace women’s golf coach Denny Duncan.

Rochester junior Ava Thomas signed a letter of intent Thursday to continue her golf and academic careers at Grace College beginning in the fall of 2025.

Thomas was the No. 2 player on the Rochester team that won the Three Rivers Conference title last fall and later finished in a tie for fourth among all individuals at the Twin Lakes sectional and second behind teammate Olivia Bailey at the Lake Central regional.

At the state finals, she shot a 175 over 36 holes to finish in a tie for 60th place out of 105 golfers.

Denny Duncan is Grace’s women’s golf coach. He has been the program’s only coach since its inception in 2015. The team has finished first, third, second and second, respectively, the last four years at the National Christian College Athletic Association Championships.

Thomas said he has known Duncan since last year.

“He’s really nice, and seeing him with the team, he’s really good with the girls,” Thomas said. “He knows what to say.”

Thomas said she visited the Grace campus last summer and liked the campus and the people.

She said she wants to major in elementary education at Grace.

“I really liked the small Christian community that they offer,” Thomas said. “I didn’t want to look anywhere else because I don’t think anywhere else would be as good.”