RICHMOND, Ky. – As we conclude our month-long celebration of EKU women's golf – as part of our year-long celebration of the 50th anniversary of the passage of Title IX – we recently caught up with two individuals who played key roles in the start of women's golf at Eastern Kentucky University. 
 
Sandy Martin was the first-ever coach of the EKU women's golf team.  In just her second year, Martin was chosen as the conference coach of the year.  In just the third year of fielding a team, Martin led the Colonels to their first conference championship (1996) and was chosen as the conference coach of the year again. 
 
Martin became the women's golf head coach in June of 1993, just a few months before the program's first season started that fall.  When classes began in the fall of 1993, Martin distributed flyers around campus inviting students to try out for the first team. 
 
Beverly Brockman Games was one of the students who tried out and made the team.  She won three Ohio Valley Conference individual championships in a four-year period from 1994 to 1997, and was chosen as the OVC Player of the Year three times.
 
Watch the video above to see our conversation with Beverly Brockman Games.
 
"To be able to learn from coach Martin and Beverly, and get to talk with them about their experiences with EKU women's golf has been very special for me," current Eastern Kentucky University Head Coach Mandy Moore said.  "They were instrumental in establishing a winning culture from the start and paving the way for future female student-athletes to have the opportunity to play golf at EKU.  I am honored to know them and take pride in carrying on the tradition that they started."
 
The first team struggled a bit in the fall of 1993, but played so well in the spring of 1994 that Martin received cards from fall tournament coaches congratulating the team on developing so quickly.
 
During the first year, all golf team members were from Kentucky.  The program started with just four or five in-state scholarships.  The first out of state golf team member was Kelly Fischer who arrived on campus in the fall of 1994.
 
In addition to handling all aspects of coaching the golf team, Martin also taught classes and was an academic advisor in the education department.  She would often drive the van back from a golf tournament and arrive back in Richmond at two or three in the morning, and then be back to teach classes at 7 a.m.
 
Before becoming the women's golf coach, Martin coached women's cross country and women's tennis at EKU.  Martin speaks highly of every one of the student-athletes who played for her and keeps up with them throughout their adult lives.