Rylie Rodriguez, a senior at Midland Christian School, made history when she signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) to play golf for Odessa College, becoming the school's first female signee, according to an Odessa American report.
Rodriguez signed her LOI at the OC Sports Center during a ceremony in which Odessa College golf coach Paul Chavez and athletic director Wayne Baker addressed his four-year relationship with Rodriguez as her swing coach.
“I have a lot of personal ties with her, we have a good connection, and I think that played a big role in her decision to come to Odessa College,” Chavez said. “She was committed to a D-I two years ago and at that time we didn’t know Odessa College was starting women’s golf."
Rodriguez, who has worked with Chavez since she was in middle school, stated that her friendship with Chavez influenced her decision to join the college.
“College is going to be my second home soon, and knowing that I already have such a great relationship and such a deep bond with him was just another wow factor to this school,” Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez had originally pledged to attend and play for Texas A&M-Corpus Christi but ultimately decided to pursue academic and athletic opportunities closer to home.
“I think that it’s going to push me to grow as a person as well just because I have so much support, and I think that’s going to elevate me to go on to bigger and better things when that time comes.”
Rodriguez committed to Odessa after shooting a 6-under 66, a course record at Gaines County Golf Course in Seminole in late October, which helped her team win the Seminole Invitational, according to a CBS7 report.
Additionally, she has earned numerous honors during her high school career, including the opportunity to participate in the Champion of Champions international world championship competition in Ireland during the summer of 2022, Odessa American reported.
Chavez, who is in his 24th season as a men's golf coach, will begin his first year as a women's golf coach in 2022.