Florida State University Athletics
A Coach's Promise
8/28/2024 3:18:00 PM | Women's Golf
ST. ANDREWS, Scotland – As soon as Lottie Woad sank a par putt on her final hole of the second round of the AIG Women's Open at the historic Old Course at St. Andrews, Seminole Head Coach Amy Bond went to work.
Bond had to change her flight back to the United States, find a hotel room for the next two nights, rearrange meetings with her players and coaching staff, and prepare for the first day of classes on Monday morning.
All because of a promise she made to Woad at the beginning of the championship.
Bond promised her four-time All-American that she would walk with her through the four rounds of the tournament should she be in the top 10 of the standings after the first two rounds of play. While Woad's 36-hole total of 142 (72-70) had her in a tie for 11th place, that was close enough for Bond.
"Amy said if I was in the top ten through 36 holes she would stay the weekend," said Woad. "I was T11 after Friday, but she thought that was close enough, and she changed her flight."
Bond's commitment to her players – past, current, and future – is one of the things that makes her one of the most likable, and respected coaches, in all of college golf. In her 15 years as the winningest coach in Florida State history, Bond has always put her players' needs ahead of her own.
Whether it's cutting short a vacation or holiday to attend the graduation ceremonies of her players, spending the night holding the hands of a student-athlete who is feeling out of sorts, or reassuring a player from overseas on her first night in the dormitories, Bond is a champion for her golfers.
And Bond makes it a rule to support her players when they are playing in a major championship around the world.
Bond was there at the 2020 U.S. Women's Open at Champions Golf Club in Houston with two of the top players in the history of the program – Frida Kinhult and Beatrice Wallin – played in the event. She walked with Kinhult during the 2021 Arnold Palmer Cup in Arkansas, accompanied star Seminoles in each of the last four Augusta National Women's Amateur Championships, and was at the 18thhole at Augusta in 2024 when Woad finished birdie-birdie to win the prestigious AWNA.
"Being a coach is something I truly cherish," said Bond upon her most recent return stateside. "The opportunity to watch our players achieve their dreams is what it is all about."
Bond's incredible journey at the 2024 AIG Women's Open began as she flew overnight and arrived at the famed Old Course in Scotland at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday. She watched as Woad completed the final two holes of her practice round. The pair boarded a shuttle back to the clubhouse.
It was then that Woad became curious and began asking questions.
"Lottie asked how long I was staying," said Bond. "I told her I was leaving Saturday because we were starting to qualify for our first tournament.
"I laughed because she scoffed and asked what she needed to do in order for me to stay," said Bond. "She asked 'what if I am top 10'?"
"Without hesitation, I told her that if she was in the top 10 after 36 holes, then I would stay."
Woad's par putt on hole No. 18 at the end of the second round set in motion a series of events that not only qualified Bond to become a certified travel agent but allowed her to watch one of the great performances by a Seminole in an LPGA major.
"I immediately got on the phone with our travel agent to see if there was even a possibility of changing my flight," said Bond. "Her first response was that it didn't look good, but that she would do her best. While I waited for her return call, I got on the phone with assistant coaches Ryan (Heisey) and Matt (Whall) to make sure they were good with me staying since our team was all weekend and Monday."
Both coaches gave Bond an emphatic thumbs up.
Fortunately for Bond, there was one seat left on a Monday flight and a connection that would get her back to campus for the second day of classes.
The next challenge was securing a hotel room for the next two nights.
Before finding a hotel room, it was necessary for Bond to make sure her team in Tallahassee was okay with her missing three days of important team functions including qualifying for the season-opening Folds of Honor Collegiate (September 9-11).
"First and foremost was to send a text to my nine players at home letting them know I would not see them Sunday morning at the qualifier as promised," said Bond. "I wished them luck in their first round of qualifying (which was to begin Saturday morning) and that I would be staying to support Lottie. I closed my message saying that one day I would do the same for them at a major championship."
Breakfast came and went on Saturday morning with no luck finding an open hotel room.
Amazingly, a room opened up shortly before Woad's scheduled tee time at 1:06 p.m.. The only challenge was that it was a caddie room. The caddie room turned out to be a small room on the top floor of a different hotel. Bond didn't hesitate and now had a plane flight home and lodging for the next two nights.
The next two days were historic for Woad.
She carded the lowest three-round score by an amateur in the history of the Open. She finished in a tie for 10th place in the individual standings and won the Smyth Salva which goes to the highest finishing amateur in the championship. The Smyth Salver has a high-profile list of winners, including Michelle Wie, Anna Nordqvist, Georgia Hall, and the 2024 AIG Women's Open champion Lydia Ko.
"It was 21 hours of a little bit of craziness and uncertainty that turned into a weekend I will not soon forget," said Bond. "I will admit there was definitely some stress, but I also had faith that the good Lord would look after me and everything would work out. Lottie holed out for eagle to end round three and then played a great final round capped with a birdie on her last hole to finish T10 and low amateur.
"St. Andrews and the Old Course are truly something special and this story is one I will remember forever."
Truth be told, Bond's first call at the end of the second round wasn't to Florida States quick-thinking travel agent, her assistant coaches, or her mom and dad. It was to her dog-sitter saying she'd be home a couple of days late.
"I immediately got on the phone when I left the course and called my dog sitter to make sure she could stay with Tucker for two more days. She was good."
Tucker is Bond's seven-year old Cocker Spaniel.
With Woad playing as the nation's top-ranked amateur, her players on board, and Tucker properly taken care of, Bond did what she always does.
She keeps her promises by always letting her players know that they are the most important people in her world.
Bond had to change her flight back to the United States, find a hotel room for the next two nights, rearrange meetings with her players and coaching staff, and prepare for the first day of classes on Monday morning.
All because of a promise she made to Woad at the beginning of the championship.
Bond promised her four-time All-American that she would walk with her through the four rounds of the tournament should she be in the top 10 of the standings after the first two rounds of play. While Woad's 36-hole total of 142 (72-70) had her in a tie for 11th place, that was close enough for Bond.
"Amy said if I was in the top ten through 36 holes she would stay the weekend," said Woad. "I was T11 after Friday, but she thought that was close enough, and she changed her flight."
Bond's commitment to her players – past, current, and future – is one of the things that makes her one of the most likable, and respected coaches, in all of college golf. In her 15 years as the winningest coach in Florida State history, Bond has always put her players' needs ahead of her own.
Whether it's cutting short a vacation or holiday to attend the graduation ceremonies of her players, spending the night holding the hands of a student-athlete who is feeling out of sorts, or reassuring a player from overseas on her first night in the dormitories, Bond is a champion for her golfers.
And Bond makes it a rule to support her players when they are playing in a major championship around the world.
Bond was there at the 2020 U.S. Women's Open at Champions Golf Club in Houston with two of the top players in the history of the program – Frida Kinhult and Beatrice Wallin – played in the event. She walked with Kinhult during the 2021 Arnold Palmer Cup in Arkansas, accompanied star Seminoles in each of the last four Augusta National Women's Amateur Championships, and was at the 18thhole at Augusta in 2024 when Woad finished birdie-birdie to win the prestigious AWNA.
"Being a coach is something I truly cherish," said Bond upon her most recent return stateside. "The opportunity to watch our players achieve their dreams is what it is all about."
Bond's incredible journey at the 2024 AIG Women's Open began as she flew overnight and arrived at the famed Old Course in Scotland at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday. She watched as Woad completed the final two holes of her practice round. The pair boarded a shuttle back to the clubhouse.
It was then that Woad became curious and began asking questions.
"Lottie asked how long I was staying," said Bond. "I told her I was leaving Saturday because we were starting to qualify for our first tournament.
"I laughed because she scoffed and asked what she needed to do in order for me to stay," said Bond. "She asked 'what if I am top 10'?"
"Without hesitation, I told her that if she was in the top 10 after 36 holes, then I would stay."
Woad's par putt on hole No. 18 at the end of the second round set in motion a series of events that not only qualified Bond to become a certified travel agent but allowed her to watch one of the great performances by a Seminole in an LPGA major.
"I immediately got on the phone with our travel agent to see if there was even a possibility of changing my flight," said Bond. "Her first response was that it didn't look good, but that she would do her best. While I waited for her return call, I got on the phone with assistant coaches Ryan (Heisey) and Matt (Whall) to make sure they were good with me staying since our team was all weekend and Monday."
Both coaches gave Bond an emphatic thumbs up.
Fortunately for Bond, there was one seat left on a Monday flight and a connection that would get her back to campus for the second day of classes.
The next challenge was securing a hotel room for the next two nights.
Before finding a hotel room, it was necessary for Bond to make sure her team in Tallahassee was okay with her missing three days of important team functions including qualifying for the season-opening Folds of Honor Collegiate (September 9-11).
"First and foremost was to send a text to my nine players at home letting them know I would not see them Sunday morning at the qualifier as promised," said Bond. "I wished them luck in their first round of qualifying (which was to begin Saturday morning) and that I would be staying to support Lottie. I closed my message saying that one day I would do the same for them at a major championship."
Breakfast came and went on Saturday morning with no luck finding an open hotel room.
Amazingly, a room opened up shortly before Woad's scheduled tee time at 1:06 p.m.. The only challenge was that it was a caddie room. The caddie room turned out to be a small room on the top floor of a different hotel. Bond didn't hesitate and now had a plane flight home and lodging for the next two nights.
The next two days were historic for Woad.
She carded the lowest three-round score by an amateur in the history of the Open. She finished in a tie for 10th place in the individual standings and won the Smyth Salva which goes to the highest finishing amateur in the championship. The Smyth Salver has a high-profile list of winners, including Michelle Wie, Anna Nordqvist, Georgia Hall, and the 2024 AIG Women's Open champion Lydia Ko.
"It was 21 hours of a little bit of craziness and uncertainty that turned into a weekend I will not soon forget," said Bond. "I will admit there was definitely some stress, but I also had faith that the good Lord would look after me and everything would work out. Lottie holed out for eagle to end round three and then played a great final round capped with a birdie on her last hole to finish T10 and low amateur.
"St. Andrews and the Old Course are truly something special and this story is one I will remember forever."
Truth be told, Bond's first call at the end of the second round wasn't to Florida States quick-thinking travel agent, her assistant coaches, or her mom and dad. It was to her dog-sitter saying she'd be home a couple of days late.
"I immediately got on the phone when I left the course and called my dog sitter to make sure she could stay with Tucker for two more days. She was good."
Tucker is Bond's seven-year old Cocker Spaniel.
With Woad playing as the nation's top-ranked amateur, her players on board, and Tucker properly taken care of, Bond did what she always does.
She keeps her promises by always letting her players know that they are the most important people in her world.
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Golf
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