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Credit to Brandon Collins | Associate Director, Athletics Communications – 12thman.com
BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Texas A&M women’s golf head coach Gerrod Chadwell announced on Wednesday the hiring of three-time LPGA Tour winner and 2011 NCAA National Champion Austin Dods (Ernst) as an assistant coach.
“What a time to be a member of the Aggie women’s golf team,” Chadwell said. “I could not be more excited about adding Austin to our family. Austin brings a wealth of knowledge, playing ability and instructional background to the table. Her skill set will only help further develop our young ladies on and off the golf course and help us identify future Aggies to bring into our program. Aggieland, please help me welcome Austin and her husband Jason! Gig ‘Em!”
The LPGA veteran logged three victories during her professional career, with the latest coming on March 7, 2021, at the LPGA Drive on Championship. The Greenville, South Carolina, native won the event by five strokes, the largest margin of victory in the tournament’s history. She also won the 2020 Walmart NW Arkansas Championship and the 2014 Portland Classic.
“My husband Jason and I are excited to make the move to Aggieland as I take a big step in my career to be a part of the women’s golf team and join the Texas A&M family,” Dods said. “Thank you to Coach Gerrod Chadwell for giving me this opportunity to work with an incredible program. Gig ‘Em!”
Dods also competed in the 2017 and 2021 Solheim Cups where she represented the United States. She helped lead Team USA to victory in 2017, contributing 3.5 points to the effort.
Dods played two seasons of collegiate golf at LSU where she dominated on the course. She turned pro after her sophomore season and still holds the seventh-lowest stroke average in program history (73.31). She became the first LSU golfer in program history to win the NCAA Division I Women’s Golf Individual Championship when she shot 7-under 281 at the Traditions Golf Club in Aggieland.