INDIANAPOLIS - On Saturday January 29, Marian University Golf along with Director of Athletics Steve Downing officially dedicated the new Marian University Golf Studio. With over $150,000 in funds raised to support its construction, Marian University's newest athletics facility was funded entirely through philanthropic contributions from over 100 individual donations. 

On hand for the dedication was current head coaches Stephen Ford and Dan Stanjevich, as well as former head coaches John Shelton and Brett Cope and multiple former and current member of the golf programs. Given the impact practice facilities have on athletic success, each coach spoke at length at the dedication about the impact this facility will have on the future of Marian Golf, and the student-athletes it will positively impact for years to come. In recognition for the standing legacy of Marian's Golf programs, Shelton and Cope each took ceremonial tee shots from their respectively named hitting bays to formally dedicate the facility.

The studio is located in the PE Center, and features a pair of GC Quad golf simulators, in addition to an eight-hole putting green. The studio is also complete with chipping areas, as well as a full locker bay for student-athletes to store their clubs and golf bags. There are also two lounge and study areas in the suite for the student-athletes. 

For future Golf recruits and their parents, the qualities of this facility represent an institutional commitment to excellence in the Golf student-athlete experience.

"This facility has the tools used by the best players in the world and to have it on campus for the guys and gals to use has been a great asset to our team this year," said Ford. "We look forward to showing off this space to future players and helping them grow into better golfers."

"The golf studio has become a great place for our student athletes to grow as athletes as well as grow their friendships with one another," said Stanjevich. "It truly has been a game changer for us and I look forward to enjoying this staple for many years to come."

"This is a major advancement for the golf programs," said former women's golf head coach Brett Cope. "The coaches can now focus their practices and training, and the golfers can get real time feedback of their total game as they practice.

The program has come a long way in the nearly 20 years of existence.  It shows the commitment not only from the Marian University Athletic Department and Marian University in total, but the commitment from alums, friends of the program, former golfers, and parents of current and past golfers to make sure the Knight Golf Program is one of the best programs in the midwest."

MUKnights.com: Your online source for Marian Athletics, tickets, multimedia, Knight merchandise, photos and more.