Dawna Jo (Baker) Hartman has been named the new women's golf coach at Drury University, the school announced on Wednesday.
Hartman replaces Lisa Tinkler, who resigned this fall to accept a position at Loyola-New Orleans after guiding the Lady Panthers' golf program through its first 10-plus seasons of existence.
Hartman was a former collegiate golf standout at Missouri State University from 1995-99, earning All-Missouri Valley Conference honors as a junior and senior for the Bears, and continued for years as one of the top area amateur players on the women's golf scene.
The Willow Springs native spent 11 years in the corporate world as a sales representative before recently returning to Millwood Golf and Racquet Club as its Director of Membership.
"I was ready to get back into golf .... (coaching) is something I've always wanted to do," Hartman says. "Women's golf has been such a big boost to my career, and I'm excited to have the opportunity to give back to these young ladies and show them some of the ways it can benefit them throughout life and their careers.
"I respect and admire the tremendous job that Lisa (Tinkler) has done in building this program from scratch, and I want to continue that tradition and build upon it."
Hartman, who resides in Springfield with husband Josh and their six-month old daughter, Kate, will officially begin her coaching duties at Drury on February 1.
"I really want to get to know the girls quickly and get to work on our schedule," Hartman says, "and I'd like to get them in the gym for some offseason conditioning so they're ready to have a big spring season."
Drury Director of Athletics
Pat Atwell said, "We are excited to have Donna Jo guide our program, and we believe she will be a great fit as our women's golf coach, with her combination of playing experience and connections in the golf industry and corporate world, and will be able to step in and continue the winning tradition begun by Lisa (Tinkler).
Drury competed in four tournaments this fall, including a fourth-place finish in its own Drury Fall Shootout at Silo Ridge CC. Hartman inherits a group with experienced players in juniors
Lauren Michael,
Morgan Lamberson,
Jessica Dillard and
Olivia Tinkler and sophomores
Meg Alumno and
Payton Rayl.
