Take one look at the Women’s Golf page on Samford Sports, and Gabi Nicastro’s name is in virtually every story. Nicastro, although only a sophomore, has excelled at Samford, helping to win big for the team, as well as individually.
Nicastro, a finance major from Huntsville, has continually won round after round. The women’s golf team has won three of four tournaments this fall, with Nicastro winning individual honors each time.
She has been named the Southern Conference women’s golfer of the week three times and is currently ranked 60th in the nation. This summer, she advanced to match play in the U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship, and last year, she was named SoCon Freshman of the Year for Women’s golf.
Her dad first took Nicastro golfing when she was nine, beginning her obsession with the sport.
“I went to the range for the first time and got hooked and I just loved it ever since,” she said.
She played golf throughout high school and was recruited by Coach Joe Davidson to come to Samford.
“There were only positive things I could find about Samford,” she said. “I love it here a lot.”
Davidson has been at Samford since 2012, and has coached women’s golf for five years. He was impressed by Nicastro’s short game and putting skills.
“I mean, she didn’t make many mistakes. I mean it was kind of boring golf,” Davidson said. “She has an incredible short game. (…) I’ve been around golf since I was seven years old. And she may be the best putter I’ve ever seen at any level.”
Talking with Nicastro, it’s clear that she simply loves the game of golf.
“I think to me, golf, it’s like a never-ending puzzle,” she said. “Like, I don’t feel like there’s like a limit that you could learn about it. And I think that’s so fun.”
Nicastro credits her consistent practice, as well as her improving mental game as the source for her success.
“You know, we have to give them off days,” he said. “But that doesn’t mean they take them. I mean, she, you know, she lives it, eats it, drinks it, sleeps it, you know, she’s just, I mean, she’s just a kind of a golf nerd,” he said.
Nicastro hopes to continue winning tournaments throughout the rest of college and potentially continue playing post-college.
“She’s just obsessed with it (golf). And that’s what it takes. I mean, you gotta be to perform at the level she’s performing,” said Davidson. “We’re very fortunate to have her at Samford.”
News Editor