Former Iowa basketball star Caitlin Clark recently took a break from her WNBA commitments to showcase her skills on the golf course, and her latest endeavor has already caught the attention of fans and fellow athletes. Clark participated in The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge pro-am tournament held in Belleair, Florida, a prestigious event where she teamed up with some of the biggest names in the sport. Known for drawing large crowds and generating considerable interest, Clark’s presence at the event boosted ticket sales, with reports indicating that it brought in 12 times more revenue than previous years.
As Clark navigated the 18-hole course, she had the unique opportunity to play alongside two prominent figures in women’s golf: World No. 1 Nelly Korda and legendary Hall of Famer Annika Sörenstam, the namesake of the tournament. Clark was clearly thrilled with the experience, sharing several photos from the day on her Instagram account. She captioned the post, “Fun day surrounded by two of the best to ever do it,” along with a golf emoji, expressing her admiration for the legendary golfers she had the chance to play with.
Her former Iowa teammates, Gabbie Marshall and Kate Martin, quickly responded to her post with enthusiasm. Martin, who is now with the Las Vegas Aces in the WNBA, commented on Clark’s stylish golfing attire, calling her shoes “fireeeee.” Marshall, who played alongside Clark at Iowa but chose to retire from basketball to pursue a graduate degree, expressed her admiration by calling Clark “My favorite golfer girl” and added a heart emoji to her comment. The heartfelt responses from her former teammates show the strong bond that remains between them, even after their time together at Iowa.
Despite her impressive performance and finishing the day with a solid net score of 59, Clark and her team ended up near the bottom of the leaderboard. This score, which accounts for all golfers’ strokes minus their handicaps, still reflected a notable -11 net par, demonstrating Clark’s competitive spirit and ability to hold her own on the course. Clark, Martin, and Marshall played together for four years at Iowa, leading the Hawkeyes to back-to-back national championship appearances in 2023 and 2024, although they fell short of the title both times. Their bond remains strong even as their careers have taken different paths.
Caitlin Clark has continued to shine both on and off the basketball court, with her move to the WNBA as the No. 1 overall pick by the Indiana Fever, while Kate Martin was selected by the Las Vegas Aces in the second round of the 2024 draft. Gabbie Marshall, however, decided to step away from basketball after the 2023-24 season, choosing to focus on her academic pursuits. Clark’s latest foray into golf highlights her versatility and determination, and her former teammates’ supportive comments serve as a reminder of the lasting friendships formed during their time together at Iowa.
