STURGIS — There is a really good chance that Madison Webb, graduate of Sturgis High School, is a better golfer than you.
It’s nothing personal, of course. But when it comes to putting together a solid round on the links, Webb is one of the best in the business. Now, following graduation from Sturgis, Webb will be continuing her academic and golfing careers with Saginaw Valley State University.
Webb joins a Cardinal golf program which finished fifth overall in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference standings last year. It also competed in the 2025 NCAA Division II East Regional as a team. Webb said she knows it will be a big jump to go from high school golf to the collegiate ranks, but she feels prepared for it.
“I am a bit nervous on the jump, it will take a bit to get used to that level of golf, I think,” she said. “But I know I have put in the work and have continued to get better. I think I will be fine.”
Webb accomplished some great things during her senior year at Sturgis. She finished her high school career with a Top 5 finish at the MHSAA state finals and earned co-Outstanding Athlete of the Year honor for Sturgis at the 102nd annual Exchange Club All-Sports Banquet with Gavyn Moore and Keyanna O’Tey. The athletes are chosen based on their athletic careers at Sturgis and each needed to have earned at least five varsity letters during their time at SHS.
When it came to her final round of golf in high school, Webb handled her business. She finished with rounds of 79 and 80 at The Meadows, host of this year’s Division 2 state finals. Her goal heading into the finals was a Top 10 finish, but she more than accomplished that.
“My goal was Top 10 honestly, we were not expecting Top 5,” Webb said with a smile. “I can’t really describe the feeling. Achievement is the best answer I can give.”
Webb’s older sister Rachel played collegiate golf at Olivet University, so there is a bit of a rivalry there, albeit probably a small one. Rachel helped Sturgis coach Ken Schau as an assistant, so she was able to see Madison’s senior year up close. Madison said that was a strong part of her continuing to get better.
“I just feel so accomplished, I’ve been working so hard and have a lot of people in my corner who have helped me,” she said. “I knew I wanted to play college golf and every year I tried to continue getting better to accomplish that goal.”
Webb was a four-year varsity player for Schau and the Trojans. During that time, she earned back-to-back individual scoring titles for the Wolverine Conference.
Schau said Webb added several positives to her game throughout the years and took a strong showing to increased distance her senior year.
“Power and strength, no doubt. She took a big step between her junior and senior year, probably gained 25 yards on her drive and it translated to her other clubs as well,” Schau said on the improvement Webb made. “I think it helped her finally realize she could play at a high level, she could compete against the bigger schools.”
But when it came to earning a spot at the state finals, Schau said those in her camp knew it would not be easy.
“State qualifier as a senior, definitely icing on the cake for her, I think that kinda spring-boarded her into the decision to play in college,” Schau said. “This will be challenging for her and that’s good. I know she will be up for it.”
Webb said she has aspirations of being a nurse someday. She did an internship at a local hospital during her senior year of schooling and bounced around a handful of departments to get some experience there.
She’s looking into the medical field as a career choice and the nursing school is a strong one at SVSU. Webb said she also could follow a path into physical therapy as that will always be something where she can help people in need.
Back on the links, Webb said she will continue to work on her putting game. It’s obviously important to any golfer’s ability to shoot low scores and it’s important to be able to read greens, have solid speed judgement and know what she’s doing once she gets to the green.
For Webb at SVSU, it will be an extension of her home life, she believes.
“Getting there, my first visit it really just felt like home. I like the university so much,” she said. “Being Division 2, I think it gives me more opportunity to be motivated and continue to get better. I want to get better.”
SVSU opens the collegiate golf season on Sept. 8 when the Cardinals host the Cardinal Cup at Saginaw Country Club.
Contact Sports Editor Brandon Watson at bwatson@gannett.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @BwatsonSJ.
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