Golfer overcomes illness, wins national award

04/30/2020

SUNY Cortland senior Danielle Bambola of Miller Place, N.Y. has been named the recipient of the 2020 Division III Women’s Golf Coaches Association (WGCA) Kim Moore Spirit Award.

During her freshman year in 2016, Bambola was diagnosed at a Type 1 diabetic following a bout of mononucleosis that left her in a coma for two days. She overcame that obstacle and went on to be one of the nation’s top golfers.

The award honors a student-athlete or coach who exhibits a great spirit toward the game of golf, has a positive attitude on and off the golf course, is a role model for her team, and demonstrates mental toughness in facing challenges. The award’s namesake, Kim Moore, is a former golfer at the University of Indianapolis from 1999 to 2003 who persevered through many physical challenges during her playing career. Moore is currently the golf coach at Saint Mary’s College in Indiana.

“I can’t think of anyone more deserving than Danielle for this honor,” said Cortland women’s golf head coach Joe Tesori, Jr. “Being diagnosed with diabetes her freshman year and having to change her entire lifestyle, actions and mindset speaks to how special of a person she is. Many players would have taken a step back after being diagnosed with such a life-changing condition, but Danielle got better, and better, and better. She took what life handed to her and never complained, never fought it, never got upset, just picked her chin up and dominated the field nearly every single week, winning 14 college tournaments.

“Danielle has been a special leader to her teammates, a role model and a model captain. What she has done for this program speaks volumes. I’ve been so fortunate to have been able to coach such a special person these last four years, and as good of a golfer as she is, she is 10 times a better person, and that’s what makes me so proud.”

Bambola was a WGCA Division III second-team All-American and first-team All-East Region selection this past season. She recorded four tournament first-place finishes and one second-place showing in five appearances during the fall season. Cortland’s spring schedule was canceled. In her 10 rounds during the fall Bambola scored a 75 or better seven times, and was in the 70s in all but one round. She broke her own school record for two-day score (144) and tied her own school single-round record (71) at the St. Lawrence Invitational. She finished the fall with a 75.0 average score per round.