Gooch Family Presents Inaugural Scholarship to Hunter Pate

LONG BEACH, Calif. -- Earlier this year, longtime supporters of Long Beach State, Dan and Desiree Gooch, funded the Marie C. Gooch Endowed Scholarship to the women's golf program. The first scholarship from that $100,000 contribution has been awarded to freshman Hunter Pate, who has already gotten off to a strong start to her career at the Beach.

"We are grateful to the Gooch family for the creation and implementation of the Marie C. Gooch endowment for scholarships," said Long Beach State head coach Joey Cerulle. "Dan and Desiree are very special people and their generosity has enhanced the women's golf team for years to come. We knew that Hunter would be the right fit for the inaugural award, and we look forward to her making the Gooch family proud."

Pate came to Long Beach State from Las Vegas, representing a rare out-of-state signee for the women's golf program. Her reputation preceded her as a top amateur player, and she has already displayed her talent on the golf course through her first two tournaments. She finished tied for third in her collegiate debut at the Ptarmigran Ram Classic in Fort Collins, Colo., going 2-under for the tournament. Last week, she was again LBSU's top finisher at the Coeur d'Alene Resort Collegiate Invitational in Coeur d'Alene, ID.

Next up for Pate and the Beach will be a trip to Washington for the Edean Ihlanfeldt Invitational Oct. 9-10.

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Hunter Pate

Long Beach State University Athletics