CHARLOTTE, N.C. - "I have played for Queens all four years," says Karolyn Rombouts. "I feel like Queens Golf is my home. This is my team and who I represent. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else." 

Today marks the launch of Investing in Champions, Queens Athletics' annual giving campaign. Every gift this week goes directly to student-athletes like Rombouts and her Golf teammates, funding the equipment, technology, and travel that shape the Queens Golf experience. 

Director of Golf Lauren Martin sees the sport as humbling, the way athletes operate so independent of one another. "There are not many situations where you play a sport for five to thirteen hours straight, with nobody to sub you out, take your place, or to blame for the score you are shooting." Out on the course alone, she says, players learn responsibility, work ethic, integrity, and resilience the hard way, with no one else to lean on. 

"Playing golf for Queens has had a great impact on not only who I am but also how I see the world," Rombouts reflects. "Being a Division I athlete has taught me focus, discipline, determination, and teamwork skills that I know I will carry with me no matter what industry I enter." 

For Bonnen Clark, a fifth-year on the men's team, the experience has been defined by the people that have made Queens home. "Queens Golf has given me a team and a sense of belonging while studying thousands of miles away from home," he says. "Some of my best memories have come from travelling, practicing and competing alongside my teammates. The friendships I have built through the program are something I will carry with me long after college." 

Martin hopes the lessons outlast her players' time on the team. "I hope they maintain the game of golf for the rest of their life, as professionals, instructors, business outings, or even just a casual weekend round of golf they play with their family and friends," she says. "I hope they remember all the lessons they learned and the memories they made, on and off the course, as golfers and as students and as people." 

Behind those memories is a program working to make room for them. "We try our best to bring excitement and joy into their busy schedule," Martin says. "We try to incorporate team bonding, elevated gear and equipment, and technology that enhances both their game and enjoyment of the game. At tournaments, we try to create a comfortable and enjoyable environment. However, we would not be able to do any of these things without donor support." 

This week, you can invest in the student-athletes on the Queens Women's and Men's Golf rosters. With a fundraising goal of $32,500 for the men's team and $17,500 for the women's, every gift is an investment in the discipline, resilience, and lifelong love of the game the program builds in every golfer. 

Check out this year's challenges and progress toward the goal HERE.

Investing In Champions is October 2-9, 2026. Unlock Royals Club benefits with gifts of $100 or more. For questions or information on issuing your own challenge, please reach out to Danielle Evans-Clan, director of athletics advancement, at evanscland@queens.edu.