Odom Signs With Lipscomb After Record-Breaking High School Career
Lowndes High School senior Catherine Odom’s earliest memories of growing up in South Georgia include hanging around the golf course with her father.
“I first became interested in golf at a very young age,” Odom said. “My dad used to let me ride with him to the course to play on the weekends, and I kept agreeing to go back because he would always get me a candy bar at the turn (halfway point).”
Those visits to the course influenced a young Odom to take up the game at an early age.
“Catherine began playing when she was 6 years old and has been playing competitively ever since,” said Amanda Hughes, Lowndes girls golf head coach.
“At first I played in many Drive, Chip and Putt events until I was old enough to play in my first tournament in the third grade,” Odom said.
Learning Discipline and Mental Toughness on the Golf Course
As she continued to pursue golf growing up, Odom began to gain the respect of those around her, both young competitors and adults alike. One of the things that Odom had to learn as a young golfer was maintaining her composure on the course, especially when things were not going her way.
“Golf has always been very natural to me, but it definitely has not always been easy,” Odom said. “The hardest part of being a golfer is the discipline it takes. Waking up early during the summer to practice before it gets too hot or staying up late to study because I used the daylight to practice takes a lot of strength and endurance. On the course, the mental aspect is definitely the toughest to deal with. Golf is a sport that requires a lot of patience and confidence. Playing with sportsmanship and a positive attitude isn’t always easy when you start hitting it bad or missing putts.”
Odom recalled learning a valuable lesson as a young golfer about controlling her emotions on the course.
“When I was in the fifth grade, I played in a tournament where my dad could caddie for me,” Odom said. “I ended up tying for first place and made it to the playoff. I hit an awful shot off the tee and became extremely upset and threw my seven-iron as hard as I could. My dad told me right there that if I ever did that again, I would not play in another tournament.”
It was a valuable lesson about patience, one she still recalls when she hits a bad shot.
“Now every time I get frustrated enough to want to throw my club, I always think about that moment, and it quickly reminds me that throwing clubs or getting mad will not improve my score,” Odom said. “Learning to stay calm and resilient after a bad shot or round has made me a better player.”
Hughes said those lessons about overcoming anger and controlling emotions are among the traits that now set Odom apart from other golfers on the course.
“Catherine’s competitors never know when she’s frustrated on the golf course because she keeps her emotions in check and makes whatever adjustments she needs,” Hughes said.
Odom Begins High School Career at Lowndes
Hughes said she heard about Odom from parents and fellow golfers before she began coaching her when Odom joined the Lowndes varsity squad as a freshman.
“I first began coaching Catherine in her freshman year in 2023, and, although this was the first time I had personally seen her play, I already knew a great deal about Catherine from the many former golfers who had grown up competing alongside her in junior tournaments,” Hughes said. “I had also heard countless positive remarks from parents who had watched her develop her game over the years. So even before I started coaching Catherine, it was clear that she had built a strong reputation, not only for her talent, but for her character and work ethic too.”
Hughes said she remembered that 2023 season, her first year as the girls golf head coach at Lowndes, and seeing Odom play for the first time as a freshman.
“I remember watching her at that first practice and was eager to see what she could do in a tournament because she was phenomenal in practice, and I knew then that she was going to be a fun one to watch and coach,” Hughes said.
Hughes said it was Lowndes’ opening tournament of 2023 when she knew Odom was something special.
“Our first tournament that year was at Springhill Country Club in Tifton, and that was the moment I knew Catherine was going to be a special player for Lowndes,” Hughes said. “She stepped into the No. 1 position and handled it with the poise and confidence of the seniors I had coached the previous year. Her composure and maturity on the course that day were well beyond most players her age, and she has continued to demonstrate that same level of focus and leadership in every tournament since.”
A True Leader for Her Team
Hughes said it was in that first year as a freshman that Odom showed she was capable of stepping in as the team’s leader, filling the void left by the departure of one of the Lowndes golf program’s top players.
“Catherine stepped into the No. 1 position her freshman year, replacing Ebby Somers, who went on to play at Jacksonville State University,” Hughes said. “Ebby was a significant part of our success during my first year as head coach, and filling that role was no small task. Catherine embraced the challenge and seamlessly filled that void, continuing the standard of excellence for our program.”
That leadership has never wavered, Hughes said.
“From her freshman year until now, Catherine has been a true leader for our team,” Hughes said. “Her dedication has been evident since day one. She celebrates her teammates’ achievements both on and off the course, and many of the younger players look up to her and seek her advice on improving their own games. She willingly takes the time to mentor them and invests in their growth. While she understands that golf is largely an individual sport, when it comes to the team component, she is completely committed. During tournaments, she consistently checks on her teammates because she understands that team success requires more than just her own performance, and that awareness and selflessness speak volumes about her character.”
Standing Out Above the Rest
Hughes said she has coached many great golfers during her career, but certain traits, even beyond the physical part of her game, separate Odom from other players
“Catherine is a player who will always stand out to me,” Hughes said. “She has likely been one of the easiest athletes I have ever coached. Her golf IQ is exceptionally advanced compared to many players her age. She understands how to strategize her way around the golf course, minimize mistakes, and post a competitive score. Golf is an incredibly mental game, and often the mental component plays an even greater role than the physical one. Catherine’s ability to manage her mental game consistently sets her apart. She has a rare ability to reset, refocus, and pull herself back into the moment when needed. She understands that golf comes with the inevitable ups and downs. Tough runs and unlucky breaks are simply part of the game, and she really embraces that reality with a next-level maturity.”
Hughes said Odom’s independence when it comes to problem-solving is a testament to her maturity and overall knowledge of the game.
“What truly differentiates her from many others I have coached is that she requires very little from me when things are not going her way,” Hughes said. “She regulates her emotions after a bad shot, maintains her composure, and competes until the final hole. After each round, she reflects on what she can learn, then returns to practice determined to correct whatever felt off.”
Accomplishments and Records
After carving a successful path playing in junior tournaments and on the Hahira Middle School golf team, Odom has continued that success through her high school career. She has won several low medalist awards and been invited to compete in numerous invitational-only tournaments.
Hughes outlined Odom’s regular season and playoff accomplishments during her career at Lowndes.
During her career regular season, Odom has achieved low medalist 10 times out of 12 regular season events, has 12 top-five finishes out of 12 events, and has been selected to the All-Tournament team in each of the 12 events.
In playoff competition, Odom has two low medalist finishes and one runner-up low medalist finish in three area playoffs, and she won low medalist in one sectionals playoff. She has three top-10 individual finishes in three state playoffs, and her team finished third in 2023, sixth in 2024, and second in 2025. Odom has been selected to the All-State team three times, nominated for Player of the Year at the Lowndes High School athletic banquet, and invited to the All-State tournament four times, including an invitation to the Louise Suggs Junior Girls Invitational, which is reserved for the nation’s top high school golfers.
Odom holds the Lowndes High School record for female golfers with a 66 at the 2024 area tournament at Osprey Cove, winning with a seven-stroke lead over the rest of the field. Odom called this win her biggest as a high school golfer but said she hopes to do even better at the tournament this season.
“That round still feels like a fever dream when I look back, but I specifically remember the feeling of accomplishment, and that’s what pushes me to try to break my own record this season,” Odom said.
Odom Prepares for Golf Beyond High School
Odom said she enjoys playing in tournaments outside of Lowndes as she seeks to gain more experience for her career beyond high school.
“I play in many individual tournaments outside of high school golf,” Odom said. “I recently competed in the Notah Begay National Championship, held at Koasati Pines at Coushatta in Kinder, Louisiana. It was a great learning experience and provided me with great opportunities to develop my golf game. Traveling with my family to different places to compete has taught me so much and given me some of my best memories of my life.”
She said competing outside of high school has also helped her gain recognition from college coaches, recognition that has paid off.
“Playing in tournaments outside of high school allowed me to be recognized by college coaches,” Odom said. “I recently signed with the Lipscomb women’s golf program, and I could not be more confident in my decision. Lipscomb is a private Christian school where I will be able to grow my faith, develop my golf game, and get a good education.”
The Lowndes senior wants to keep improving in 2026, her last year of high school golf.
“I strive to continue to improve so that I can contribute to a team outside of high school golf,” Odom said.
Hughes said Odom has proven she is ready for the next step in her golf career.
“Catherine’s perseverance and determination have allowed her to accomplish her goals, most notably earning the opportunity to play Division I collegiate golf with Lipscomb University, where I have no doubt she will continue to excel both on and off the course,” Hughes said.
Odom currently ranks in the top 4% of her graduating class and has maintained a 4.0 GPA throughout high school. Hughes said that commitment, both in the classroom and on the course, will make Odom a name to remember in Lowndes High School athletics.
“Catherine is a special player and a remarkable competitor who will undoubtedly leave a lasting legacy on Lowndes golf,” Hughes said.
