North Murray High School's Savanah Satterfield has committed to play college golf for Georgia Southern University. 

CHATSWORTH, Ga. — The lure of playing college golf at Georgia Southern University was so strong for Savanah Satterfield, the program was selling itself before the North Murray High School rising senior ever got to the campus. 

Satterfield was recently golfing in a tournament in the Statesboro area when she reached out to Georgia Southern coach Emily Kuhfeld about making an unofficial visit. Not too long after, Satterfield’s decision on her future was made. She committed to play her college golf for the Division I Eagles. 

“I was playing a tournament down there, I emailed the coach before I even got down there for the tournament,” Satterfield said. “I was talking to her to maybe make an unofficial visit, and even before I visited the campus I said I loved the area. It felt like home already before I went to the campus.

“The school was just amazing. There’s not anything bad I can say about that campus or the program.”

Prior to Georgia Southern coming into the picture, Satterfield said she was considering Furman and Mercer. But once the correspondence started with Georgia Southern, she said her mind was made up. 

“The other ones are great schools, but that was home to me,” she said.

Satterfield added she quickly developed a strong relationship with her future coach. 

“Before my practice round she emailed me about coming to visit,” Satterfield said. “She came and watched me play all three days. Most coaches, they’ll watch you one day for maybe nine holes, but she watched me all 18 holes every day. When I talked to her we had a great talk and we clicked really well.”

Kuhfeld is the latest in a line of coaches who have had a strong impact on Satterfield’s career. 

“I started at Dalton Golf and Country Club with Russ Allstun, he was a great coach, taught me so much fundamentally,” she said. “As I got older, I had a recommendation to go down to Atlanta and work with Chan Reeves. He was amazing. He’s been there so much and helped me with contacts and anything possible. He’s been so great to me in terms of helping me with my short game. He also helped me a lot in picking out what school fits my personality best and my golf game the best.”

At North Murray, Satterfield has had great success with coach Keith Robinette.

“He’s been a great coach, such a confidence booster,” Satterfield said. “He’s always telling me how to stay positive and helped me so much as far as my mindset on the golf course.”

Robinette called Satterfield’s commitment “a great honor for her.”

“Anytime you have a student or player that’s able to continue to play at the next level it’s definitely rewarding for sure,” he said. “She’s worked her tail off to get where she is and it’s great to see her rewarded for it. It’s also rewarding on the coach’s side to know we’ve been able to help them get there. It’s been a blessing.

“You know what comes with this, you get a chance to get an education and compete at a higher level. That’s big for her. She’s a true competitor. She’s a very, very bright individual. She’ll be just fine at the college level.” 

In her first three years at North Murray, Satterfield has compiled an impressive list of accomplishments. She has finished no lower than fourth individually at the Class 3A state championships. She tied for third as a freshman in 2015, was fourth in 2016 and tied for fourth this past season. 

She led the Lady Mountaineers to a fourth-place team finish in 2016 in 3A and a third-place finish this past year. 

Also this past season, she finished no lower than fourth in any tournament she played in, and was medalist at the North Murray Invitational at Indian Trace. 

She’ll join an Eagles team that finished eighth at last year’s Sun Belt Conference Championship. Satterfield said an option is available for her to graduate from North Murray in December and play for the Eagles in the spring, although a decision on that has not been made.

“She’s (Kuhfeld) wanting me to come in January and I’ll be able to play in every tournament and start conference for her this year,” Satterfield said. “If I do want to wait until my actual graduation year, there will be a few more girls in the program but she said she thinks I’ll be able to come in and play and fit in really well.” 

If she returns to North Murray in the spring, Satterfield is expected to continue playing with the two other golfers who with her made up North Murray’s third-place state finishing team, her cousin Shelby Satterfield and Caroline Ridley. The goal is obvious.

“We want to go after a state title,” Savanah Satterfield said. “Me and my teammates, we’re working really hard. It would be great for our school to get a state title. But you’ve got to go step by step. Really, start with the first match of the season and work until region, then state.”

Satterfield is eligible to sign a National Letter of Intent during the NCAA’s early signing period Nov. 8-15. Now, she’s one step closer to making a longtime dream come true.

“All the hard work, all the hours you spent working to play at a Division I school, it’s great that it’s happening,” she said. “It’s a good feeling knowing all your hard work pays off. Sometimes you get discouraged. ‘Can I achieve my goals? Can I get where I want to go?’ It’s a big relief and a big accomplishment for me.”