Pirate Postcard: Erin McClure of Women's Golf

July 28, 2014

With July nearing its end, the start of the fall semester at The Hall is on the horizon. In a few short weeks, student-athletes from all 14 varsity squads will travel from all around the globe to return to South Orange and represent the blue & white.

Throughout the summer, our Pirate Postcard series has featured first-hand insight from Pirates throughout the world regarding their summer activities.

Today, our latest correspondence comes from women's golfer Erin McClure, a business marketing major who has been hard at work in her native Tucson, Arizona in advance of her final year at Seton Hall.

A two-time BIG EAST Academic All-Star, two-time Women's Golf Coaches Association of America (WGCA) All-American scholar and member of the National Student-Athlete Honor Society Chi Alpha Sigma; McClure recently capped the most successful year of her collegiate career by receiving the BIG EAST Scholar-Athlete Sport Excellence Award - a prestigious honor given to one student-athlete in each BIG EAST-sponsored sport based on academic credentials, athletic accolades or performances and volunteer service to the community.

On the course, McClure played a central role for the Pirates during a historic 2013-14 campaign that saw the women's golf squad take home a conference title in just its fourth year of existence. During the season, she tallied a team-best seven, top-10 finishes and five, top-five finishes - highlighted by an individual victory at the 2013 Rutgers Invitational.

With the conference title on the line, she combined with teammate Megan Tenhundfeld (Loveland, Ohio) to lead the championship charge by tying for second overall.

Prior to her final season, McClure has been balancing continued improvement on the links with an immersive experience in what has been the family business.

Hey Pirate Fans!

I hope you are having a great summer!

Even though it's about 100 and many degrees here in Tucson I have been enjoying playing golf, spending time with my family and working (surprisingly).

I landed a job at Farmers insurance through my recently retired Aunt who started the agency 27 years ago. Currently, I am working for the new agent who took over her book of business at the beginning of June. Working in insurance has run in my family for many years. In fact, when I was growing up I filed for my aunt for many years in the same office I am currently working at.

I have thoroughly enjoyed working for Farmers thus far. I have learned so much just in a short amount of time about insurance and customer service from my boss and the staff here. Since there has been a new owner it has been quite the rollercoaster, but it has been a fun ride. I have learned mostly about how important customer service is (especially in insurance) and the basics of insurance itself.

Although I don't necessarily know where I am going to end up after college this internship has given me an opportunity to come back to Tucson once I graduate and work full-time for an insurance company. Additionally, the real-world insights I have gathered from working here it will be extremely beneficial tools that I can use when we return to the classroom.

Aside from being an invaluable learning experience that has been the undoubted highlight of my summer, it has been the greatest feeling to have my boss and co-workers unconditionally support the goals I have in other areas as well. My boss understands how important my golf game is at Seton Hall and wants to make sure that I am "tournament ready" for when season comes.

My time as a student-athlete at Seton Hall has been one of the most rewarding experiences in my life. Not only have I enhanced my golf game, but I have learned about teamwork, leadership and time management. All of these concepts can be taken into the workplace as well as I have seen this summer.

Being on women's golf team was a highlight already, but winning the BIG EAST Championship was just the icing on the cake. Winning the championship with just four years under our belt as a program is a huge accomplishment it's the greatest feeling when all of the hard work and training sessions pay off.

Now that we have won the BIG EAST, our standards are set even higher for this upcoming year. We have two great freshmen coming in and five returning players for the 2014-2015 season. Although we have lost four girls this past year, I think that we are going to be stronger than ever.

These past three years have been pretty incredible, and it's even more exciting to see what is in store next for us this next year.

Luckily we don't have to wait too much longer to find out!

Go Pirates!

Sincerely,

Erin

Check back next week on SHUPirates.com for the newest edition of Pirate Postcard.