Michigan Golf Journal June 2020

31 June 2020 www.michigangolfjournal.com the hospital including into Hoffman’s unit, as elective cases like knee and hip replacements were postponed. “My floor normally staffs at 10 nurses and everyone has four patients with a charge [lead] nurse,” Hoffman said, after her first shift back on nursing duty since December. “During the recent peak of the pandemic, Michigan Medicine implemented a safer staffing model including general care nurses deployed to intensive care unit (ICU) operations where a majority of COVID-19 patients were. “Everyone realized we had to come together as a strong, united front to provide the best possible care for all. After a season on the links it’s nice to get back to this other career I chose, to gain perspective. I feel fortunate in helping make a difference and that it allows for a steady paycheck.” Hoffman’s path to college golf was not smooth. She never played AJGA events growing up, and only broke 80 two times during high school, finishing well outside the top 10 at states her senior year at Saline High. To say she was a college golf late bloomer is mild, but she more than made up for it as her game quickly progressed at Grand Valley State. She became a 3-time Division II All-American at GVSU with 11 college victories, then graduated in August 2013 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing. Over her final five semesters, she balanced full-time clinical work with responsibilities of being a student-athlete. She plays pro golf when she can but returns to nurse status when Tour schedules take a break. “Sarah was a coach’s dream come true,” GVSU head coach Rebecca Mailloux said recently. “She loved the game of golf, worked really hard every day and was always looking to her coaches to help her improve.  Her work ethic was tremendous and is a huge testament to why she improved so quickly in the game once she came to Grand Valley.  The progress she made in such a short time was remarkable.  Her competitiveness was infectious and resulted in a lot of success while at Grand Valley. I know her time will come. Hard work always pays off.” The most updated restart to the 2020 Symetra Tour season is planned for July 8-10 in Maineville, Ohio for the Prasco Charity Championship. Hoffman will remain on the medical front lines until her name is called on the first tee. Then it will be time to dust off the Callaways and return once more to her non-superhero identity: professional golfer on the Symetra Tour. MGJ Story by Zach Sepanik and Tom Lang