Chattanooga Christian senior Anna Pope commits to Austin Peay golf team

Arkansas-SEMO Live Blog
photo Anna Pope

Chattanooga Christian senior Anna Pope has decided she will continue her golf career at Austin Peay State University.

Pope chose the NCAA Division I school in Clarksville, Tenn., over Division III members Berry and Sewanee and NAIA Tennessee Wesleyan because of the relationship she founded with coach Sara Robson.

"I've been talking to Sara for a couple years. Then on my visit, we talked for three hours," Pope said. "I love her, love the team and the school is great."

Pope tied for sixth at the Class A/AA state tournament as a junior and won the Dan Tribble Chattanooga PGA Junior championship last fall. She earned a spot on the 2013 Times Free Press Best of Preps third team.

"I think her best golf is still ahead of her," said Council Fire professional Richard Rebne, Pope's swing coach. "She has a great attitude and work ethic, and overall she's a well-rounded player."

Rebne has been working with Pope for about four years. He remembers her shooting scores in the 120s during area and Tennessee Golf Association tournaments.

"I even told her at one point, 'You don't have to play in these tournaments,'" Rebne recalled. "But she's so determined that she would keep chugging along. I tell my own children [both are golfers] that they need to be more like Anna, because her attitude is so amazing."

Pope, a National Honor Society member, will be the third golfer from Hamilton County to play at APSU in the last decade. Former Soddy-Daisy standout Jessica Cathey is a sophomore on the squad, and former Ooltewah golfer Catie Tucker finished her Lady Govs career in 2011.

"I'm really dedicated," Pope said. "I will work my tail off to get what I want."

Contact David Uchiyama at duchiyama@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6484. Follow him at twitter.com/UchiyamaCTFP.

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