Senior Casey Danielson has had a break out season with the top-ranked (Golfstat) Stanford women's golf team. An All-Pac-12 First Team selection, she has already produced eight top 10 finishes, including six top fives, and helped the squad produce four regular-season wins, the most in program history. She came to The Farm from a small town, but has thrived in and out of the classroom. Seemingly always smiling, Danielson will graduate next month with a degree in public policy and has her sights set on a pro golf career. But first, she will try to help the Cardinal win an NCAA title, starting next Monday in the Albuquerque Regional in New Mexico.
Q: You are from Osceola, Wisconsin. Where is that?
A: It's about an hour away from the Twin Cities – Minneapolis/St. Paul, right on the border. The population is 2,500 and we have one stop light. Definitely a small town feel and I love going home. There's never any traffic and you don't have to worry where to park or wait for a table. I have a lot of support from my teachers and people in the town that follow golf. I'm so lucky.
Q: You and teammate Quirine Eijkenboom enjoy cooking and share recipes on Instagram, where you are known as "Tastefully Twins." How did that start?
A: We're big foodies. When we knew we were going to be living together in an apartment, we started talking about the food we were going to make and how we should document it. We cook almost every night and eat pretty healthy. It was a way to share what we made and keep our moms in the loop. It's fun for our teammates, too. We make a lot of pasta dishes and throw in whatever we can think of. Our latest was a burrito bowl. We're actually thinking of continuing it after school so we can stay in touch.
Q: You played with All-Americans Lauren Kim and Mariah Stackhouse for three years, but now you are a team leader. Describe the transition.
A: I'm just here for my team. Whatever it takes to bring them together and motivate everyone. For the last two years, what was important was having Lauren and Mariah motivating and pushing people. They are both amazing people and players, and were great examples for me. I was definitely ready to step up, especially with four freshmen coming in. I have enjoyed being a leader, along with Quirine, Shannon (Aubert) and Calli (Ringsby). We include everyone and make sure they are smiling and having a good time.
Q: What is the personality of this team?
A: I think we have a lot of talent. We also have really good chemistry and are really close. We all get along and push each other.
Q: One of your freshman, Andrea Lee, has three wins and has been ranked in the top 10 in the country most of the season. So have you. Have you developed a friendly rivalry?
A: We're really competitive with each other, but in a healthy way. We poke fun at each other, laugh, outdrive and elbow each other. But it's all in good fun. We're both trying to win every week.
Q: You reach a lot of par-5s in two. Are you the longest hitter on the team?
A: I'm not. Calli and Emily (Wang) hit it farther. We all had to know, so coach (Anne Walker, the Margot and Mitch Milias Director of Women's Golf) put us on TrackMan. Emily hit it the farthest (278 yards), then Calli (275), then me (265). Andrea can clock one, too. We're a long-hitting team in general.
Q: You helped the team capture the program's first NCAA title in 2015 and finished second last year. Describe the atmosphere and how it motivates you to return?
A: There was nothing like my sophomore year, winning the national championship on the last playoff hole. It was incredible. I've never experienced that kind of energy before. Even last year, having that chance right at the end. I've been doing everything I can to help us get back in that position because I know from experience, and so do Shannon and Sierra (Kersten) how fun it is. We don't want to give it up because we're not giving it our all.
Q: You also distinguished yourself last year by making a hole-in-one in the NCAA Championships. What was that like?
A: I kept the scorecard but I'm not sure where the ball went. That was really fun and totally unexpected. I mishit the shot and was just glad it made it over the water. I was walking away and everyone started screaming. Definitely a good story to have because my other one was in a practice round.
Q: Speaking of luck, you found two $100 bills during a three-month span last spring.
A: That was pretty incredible. I feel like I've got a little bit of a lucky streak. I took my friends out to dinner.
Q: At the East Lake Cup, you received the Tom Cousins Award for academics and community involvement. You also tied for first with Andrea in medal play qualifying, before losing in a playoff on the sixth-extra hole.
A: It was fun to be in that situation again, with the cameras (Golf Channel) there against my teammate for the title. We both played really well and wanted to win. But we were talking down the fairways and laughing about how crazy the experience was. I wish I would have made the first birdie, but Andrea is an amazing player and was going to birdie eventually. It was a long and nerve-racking day.
Q: You recently completed your degree in public policy and will receive your diploma in June. Has it sunk in?
A: I can reflect, but haven't gone too deep because it will be so emotional. I have had such an amazing time at Stanford. The other thing is I'm still looking forward to making it to nationals. I'll be back for the graduation ceremony in June.
Q: Is a pro career in the cards?
A: That's the plan. I went back and forth the last three years because I know it won't be an easy road. This past summer, I decided not to do it and looked for a job. I had an interview last fall and it just didn't click for me. I knew it wasn't my path. I went to practice later that day and was outside, having a great day, and from that moment on it just clicked and I knew. I've been able to commit ever since and I think it has really helped my game.