University of Memphis Athletics
Photo by: Joe Murphy
The Course, Now Her Stage
Oct 15, 2016 | Women's Golf
Tigers golfer Leighann Cabush was a competitive dancer.
NOTE: The Tigers women's golf team is in action Monday-Tuesday, Oct. 17-18 as it hosts the Memphis Women's Intercollegiate at Ridgeway Country Club in Germantown, Tenn. (The feature below first appeared in the Sept. 24 Memphis Football GameDay Program.)
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As kids grow up, interests change – and sports are no different.
There are many stories about how a basketball player is now competing on the football gridiron, or how a volleyball standout is now hooping on the basketball hardwood.
But, what about someone that has a strong performing arts background moving to the sports realm. Those stories are rare, one of which is Tigers women's golfer Leighann Cabush. A University of Memphis senior, Cabush once was a competitive dancer who perfected her talents on stage.
"My mother put me in dance classes at a young age, and I loved it from the start," said Cabush. "All my teachers said I had a natural talent, and my love for dance grew."
The Waukesha, Wis., native began taking dance classes in third grade, but did not start competitive dance until her seventh-grade year. For three years, Cabush was involved in competitive dance, and she learned and performed different dances.
"I performed a combination of dances, but mainly lyrical, jazz, tap and ballet," Cabush said. "I enjoyed lyrical the most. Lyrical is not as structured and technical as ballet, and it's more about telling a story through your movements. I liked telling stories through my dance."
Her second year of competitive dance was where her story changed. While still competing in dance, Cabush began taking up the sport of golf. It was a smooth transition for Cabush, whose parents, Tom and Beth, and older brother, Michael, also played golf.
"I started taking golf lessons in eighth grade," Cabush said. "My family was happy I took up golf, but they never pushed me into the sport. My parents were supportive of whatever I wanted to do, and they encouraged me. Obviously, it helped that my whole family golfed."
Entering high school, Cabush was still doing both dance and golf. But, it was that year when she decided to make the 18-hole course her new stage.
"My freshman year in high school, I was playing golf and also involved in dance, and I realized that I had a natural talent for golf," Cabush said. "What hit me was, when I competed in dance, my scores were dependent on judges. I wasn't determining my outcome. But, in golf, I determine my outcome by how I play. It's all on me."
With her total focus on golf, Cabush became one of top high school players in Wisconsin. During her career at Kettle Moraine High School, Cabush placed in the top-10 at the Wisconsin state championships three times, including a runner-up finish her junior year. She earned all-state honors three years and academic all-state all four years.
The success and the honors that came with it, though, never deterred Cabush from striving to get better.
"I loved golf even though I learned it can be a frustrating sport," said Cabush. "I learned how hard you have to work on your game. I'm from Wisconsin, so I had to practice in a dome in the winter. Everyday I'd go with my dad to the dome and hit golf balls.
"I had that golfer's itch when I started. When you first start playing, it's an itch that you want to get better."
And, Cabush has carried that golfer's itch – or desire to get better -- to Memphis. Entering her senior campaign, she has qualified for all 29 events and has a 75.0 stroke average. Cabush has 13 top-10 performances, including two tournament individual titles. A finance major, she was one of eight Tigers student-athletes to receive a 2015-16 American Athletic Conference Scholar-Athlete Sport Excellence Award. The Scholar-Athlete Sport Excellence Awards are given to student-athletes based on academic credentials, athletic performances and volunteer service to the community.
"She's been fantastic here," said head coach Beth Harrelson. "She's had the team's lowest stroke average two of her three years. She just received a conference scholar-athlete award. She's served on the SAAC (Student-Athlete Advisory Committee). She's a leader on and off the course."
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As kids grow up, interests change – and sports are no different.
There are many stories about how a basketball player is now competing on the football gridiron, or how a volleyball standout is now hooping on the basketball hardwood.
But, what about someone that has a strong performing arts background moving to the sports realm. Those stories are rare, one of which is Tigers women's golfer Leighann Cabush. A University of Memphis senior, Cabush once was a competitive dancer who perfected her talents on stage.
"My mother put me in dance classes at a young age, and I loved it from the start," said Cabush. "All my teachers said I had a natural talent, and my love for dance grew."
The Waukesha, Wis., native began taking dance classes in third grade, but did not start competitive dance until her seventh-grade year. For three years, Cabush was involved in competitive dance, and she learned and performed different dances.
"I performed a combination of dances, but mainly lyrical, jazz, tap and ballet," Cabush said. "I enjoyed lyrical the most. Lyrical is not as structured and technical as ballet, and it's more about telling a story through your movements. I liked telling stories through my dance."
Her second year of competitive dance was where her story changed. While still competing in dance, Cabush began taking up the sport of golf. It was a smooth transition for Cabush, whose parents, Tom and Beth, and older brother, Michael, also played golf.
"I started taking golf lessons in eighth grade," Cabush said. "My family was happy I took up golf, but they never pushed me into the sport. My parents were supportive of whatever I wanted to do, and they encouraged me. Obviously, it helped that my whole family golfed."
Entering high school, Cabush was still doing both dance and golf. But, it was that year when she decided to make the 18-hole course her new stage.
"My freshman year in high school, I was playing golf and also involved in dance, and I realized that I had a natural talent for golf," Cabush said. "What hit me was, when I competed in dance, my scores were dependent on judges. I wasn't determining my outcome. But, in golf, I determine my outcome by how I play. It's all on me."
With her total focus on golf, Cabush became one of top high school players in Wisconsin. During her career at Kettle Moraine High School, Cabush placed in the top-10 at the Wisconsin state championships three times, including a runner-up finish her junior year. She earned all-state honors three years and academic all-state all four years.
The success and the honors that came with it, though, never deterred Cabush from striving to get better.
"I loved golf even though I learned it can be a frustrating sport," said Cabush. "I learned how hard you have to work on your game. I'm from Wisconsin, so I had to practice in a dome in the winter. Everyday I'd go with my dad to the dome and hit golf balls.
"I had that golfer's itch when I started. When you first start playing, it's an itch that you want to get better."
And, Cabush has carried that golfer's itch – or desire to get better -- to Memphis. Entering her senior campaign, she has qualified for all 29 events and has a 75.0 stroke average. Cabush has 13 top-10 performances, including two tournament individual titles. A finance major, she was one of eight Tigers student-athletes to receive a 2015-16 American Athletic Conference Scholar-Athlete Sport Excellence Award. The Scholar-Athlete Sport Excellence Awards are given to student-athletes based on academic credentials, athletic performances and volunteer service to the community.
"She's been fantastic here," said head coach Beth Harrelson. "She's had the team's lowest stroke average two of her three years. She just received a conference scholar-athlete award. She's served on the SAAC (Student-Athlete Advisory Committee). She's a leader on and off the course."
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