As an avid fan of golf and a member of the Saints women鈥檚 golf team, junior Colleen (鈥淐.J.鈥�) Donegan feels like she鈥檚 won the lottery. During the 2018 PGA Championship, one of the game鈥檚 most prestigious events 鈥� and in its centennial year 鈥� she鈥檒l be in the middle of the action.
Donegan was selected from a competitive pool of student applicants as the only marketing and administrative intern for the tournament, which will take place in St. Louis at Bellerive Country Club, located just two miles from Maryville.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a once-in-a-lifetime event,鈥� says Donegan. 鈥淭his is the reason I got into sports. There鈥檚 only one, 100th championship, and I realize the importance of that. It鈥檚 unbelievable that I get to work at it.鈥�
Donegan applied for the position in early August, but not without some hesitation. As a second-year student, she expected senior-level students to be considered more highly. However, thanks in part to a trio of sports industry experiences she gained in just one year through the Rawlings Sport Business Management program, her resume is strong.
Her volunteer positions took place during the 2017 spring semester. Donegan first worked with Rawlings for the St. Louis Cardinals Warm-Up. She also volunteered during the NCAA Division I wrestling championship Fan Festival held in St. Louis, and traveled to Des Moines, Iowa, to work a women鈥檚 basketball championship.
鈥淭he thing about our program is that you come out of it with such a great resume, it鈥檚 hard not to get hired,鈥� Donegan says.
Bellerive offered her the paid internship after phone and in-person interviews.
鈥淚鈥檓 so excited I can鈥檛 put it into words,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 hung up the phone and was smiling the rest of the day.鈥�
Her parents, who are also avid golf fans, were ecstatic.
鈥淢y mom screamed when I told her,鈥� says Donegan. 鈥淢y dad cried, because he was proud of me. Most sophomores aren鈥檛 getting internships like this.鈥�
Donegan鈥檚 first task is to recruit operational sponsors. She鈥檒l also coordinate event volunteers.
The tournament is scheduled for Aug. 9-12.
鈥淚鈥檓 planning to spend my summer living in their office,鈥� says Donegan. 鈥淚t鈥檚 probably going to be really intense. As a golfer, I understand the importance of an event like this and the history and the drive to make it perfect.鈥�