USD Magazine Fall 2021

for our players. Showing that we support our scholar-athletes in this way will give us an advan- tage in recruiting top talent and in helping them to succeed.” The 1.4-acre facility will be located in the northeast quadrant of campus, centered in the hub of USD athletic facilities. This will provide USD golfers with opportunities to strengthen what Purcell sees as the differ- ence-making skills in modern- day golf. “These days, the equip- ment is so advanced it seems like everyone can hit the ball 300 yards. That’s great, but it also shortens a lot of courses to the point where the major keys to success are how well you can chip and putt. This facility will give USD golfers the opportunity to really hone those skills.” The facility will be comprised of a 3,000 square-foot clubhouse that includes a locker room, lounge, indoor/outdoor hospitality space, study/conference areas, a hitting bay and golf lab featur- ing cutting-edge technology and equipment. “As a result of the generosity of the Purcell family, and a strong commitment from the University of San Diego, I could not be more thrilled to be designing a state- of-the-art on campus golf practice facility for the Toreros,” says Mickelson. “Every detail of this new facility will be designed to improve the scholar-athlete golfer, provide an environment to pro- mote team unity, instill competi- tion and position USD to compete for future West Coast Conference and national championships.” In addition to the significant impact the facility will have on the Torero golf program, the First Tee and other local organi- zations, to strengthen its com- mitment to serving anchor com- munities like Linda Vista, Logan Heights and City Heights. university intends, through partnerships with Pro Kids,

ZACHARY BARRON

CREDENTIALS: Women’s basketball guard Myah Pace led the Toreros in scoring with 11.8 points per game during the 2020-21 season. She also earned WCC All-Academic honors for her impressive classroom accomplishments and serves as a team captain, a responsibility she doesn’t take lightly. “Our team has always had really great leaders, both on the court and in the locker room. I’ve learned so much during my time here, and I want to make sure I share that knowledge with the younger players. They’ll be the ones to carry that leadership legacy forward.” JUMP AROUND: Pace and her teammates like to ease the tension with some impromptu dance contests as a pregame ritual, and she’s amazed by their smooth moves. “Oh my, we’ve got some really good dancers on our team. It can get really tense and serious sometimes, but we’re also really goofy together. It’s nice to have that balance where we can feed off each other’s energy in a fun and positive way.” THE HANDS THAT BUILD: Pace has been passionate about architecture for as long as she can remember. Her family moved a lot in her younger years, and while her siblings would squabble over who got the bigger room, Pace was asking about each house’s structure and design. “We lived in six different states, and I was always paying attention to how things looked in our area: houses, buildings, community spaces, everything. I love architecture because it gives me the opportunity to help plan and build. I look forward to having that opportunity as a professional where I can help create spaces that can strengthen and support underserved communities.” — Mike Sauer G E T T I NG TO KNOW . . . MYAH PAC E

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Fall 2021