Life Through Golf: Grace Kilcrease

By Grant Noyes:

After clinching her first victory as an Oklahoma State Cowgirl at the prestigious Carmel Cup, Grace Kilcrease could have chosen any extravagant celebration.

However, instead of champagne toasts or grandiose parties, Kilcrease opted for something more fitting of her personality an Italian dinner with family, followed by a scoop of her favorite cookie dough ice cream.

As she sat there, surrounded by loved ones and quietly savoring her dessert, the reality of her win still hadn't quite set in. It was a simple moment, much like Kilcrease herself. Here is the catch, no "simple girl" shoots a record-breaking 63 in a round of golf.

Kilcrease's success is anything but basic, rooted in habits of discipline, hard work, and an unwavering focus on the game she loves. From early morning practice sessions to quiet nights of journaling, she builds her legacy in the small, consistent actions of her daily life.

Yet, when asked to describe herself, she humbly shrugged and said, "I'm kind of a simple girl. I just try to work hard on what I do."

Kilcrease's understated nature hides a fierce competitor and a meticulous golfer, one who has already begun to leave her mark on the Cowgirl program.

Born and raised in Springdale, Arkansas, Kilcrease is now making waves as a junior transfer at OSU. After committing to then-head coach Annie Young at the University of Tulsa and playing two seasons with the Golden Hurricane, Kilcrease made the jump to OSU.
In her Cowgirl debut, Kilcrease captured the individual title at the Carmel Cup on Sept. 1, 2024, at the famed Pebble Beach Golf Links in California.

As impressive as that was, just 22 days later she followed it up by setting a Cowgirl record at the Schooner Fall Classic, shooting a jaw-dropping 63 at the Belmar Golf Club. With that score, she bested the previous 64s recorded by OSU legends Maddison Hinson-Tolchard, Amy Ruengmatakhun, and Jayde Panos.

Yet, ask Kilcrease about her life, and she might downplay her achievements, describing herself simply as "hardworking." It's this humility and dedication that perhaps sets her apart. Reflecting on her path to collegiate golf, Kilcrease points to her high school days and the disruption of COVID-19 as the turning points in her career.

"During COVID, that's when I really started to play in more national tournaments," Kilcrease said. "I kind of knew at that point I had the potential to play Division I golf."

Winning her first AJGA tournament and a strong freshman year at Tulsa solidified her belief that she could compete at the highest level.

The transition to Stillwater was not without its challenges. When Young left Tulsa to return to her alma mater as an assistant coach at OSU, Kilcrease found herself navigating the uncertainty of the transfer portal.

"It was kind of a stressful time," Kilcrease said. "Obviously, OSU was high on the list, but there were still some other things I had to consider."

Ultimately, the bond with Young, who had recruited her to Tulsa and had become a significant influence in her life, helped steer Kilcrease to Stillwater.

"It's a dream come true to have her at OSU," Young said. "It's amazing what she has accomplished in her short time here. I can't wait to see her continued success throughout her career."

Young is no stranger to the world of elite golf. A four-year letter-winner at Oklahoma State and the 2005 Big 12 Player of the Year, Young's experience and tenacity have made her an inspiring mentor.

"When I first recruited Grace, she was very raw and a bit inexperienced with high-level tournaments," Young said. "I could see that she was very competitive, a golf junky and a great person. Her willingness to work hard and her desire to learn has made her the golfer she is today."

Kilcrease's success at OSU comes from more than just talent; it stems from an insatiable work ethic and passion for the sport. Despite her historic accomplishments, she remains focused and grounded.

"I really just try to take it day by day and get 1 percent better," Kilcrease said.

Outside of golf, Kilcrease leads a seemingly straightforward life. She enjoys journaling, calligraphy and hanging out with friends. A self-proclaimed Netflix binge-watcher, she's a fan of series like Stranger Things and Outer Banks, and her all-time favorite movie is Interstellar.

Her love for simple joys extends to food too, with the aforementioned cookie dough ice cream topping her list.

Transitioning from a bigger city and smaller university at Tulsa to the small-town charm and large campus of Stillwater has been smooth for Kilcrease.

"I feel like everyone's real friendly here. It's kind of like that southern hospitality," Kilcrease said.

With the rest of the fall season and spring on the horizon, Kilcrease is focused on building upon her early success.

"I'm excited for the Stevens Cup because it will be on the Golf Channel," Kilcrease said. "Hopefully, we can get some good team finishes in there."

Setting her sights high, she hopes to earn another individual win and become an All-American by spring.

However, Kilcrease remains pragmatic about her goals.

"I don't really like to focus on result goals because it kind of takes my mind off what I'm trying to do," Kilcrease said. "I just need to stick to my process."

Kilcrease's journey from a "simple girl" with a dream to a collegiate golf star continues to unfold.

"Golf is such an interesting sport where you can never perfect it, but you always try to aim for that," Kilcrease said. "I want to be the best in the world at some point, but I just love practicing and playing."

Kilcrease and the rest of the Cowgirls return to action on Oct. 14 at the Dale McNamara Invitational in Broken Arrow.

For season-long coverage of Oklahoma State women's golf, visit okstate.com or @Cowgirlgolf on social media.

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