For the first time ever, Newman University in Wichita, Kansas, is home to three Icelandic golfers: sophomore Tomas Hugi Asgeirsson, and first-year students Halldor Vidar Gunnarsson and Asdis Eva Bjarnadottir.
According to the Census Reporter, in 2024, Wichita’s population was just shy of 401,000. Meanwhile, the entire population of Iceland was only 364,000.
The fact that three students from Iceland enrolled at the same American university to play on the same team at the same time was no coincidence. It’s all part of the recruiting strategy of head men and women’s golf coach Lon Flippo.
A man with a plan
When Flippo was appointed as head coach ahead of the 2023-2024 season, he faced the challenge of putting Newman on the map.
Whether that was to grow the program — or quite literally put Newman on a worldwide scale — he has made great progress in achieving both of those goals.
Iceland isn’t the only country where Flippo has found recruiting success. Other members of Newman University’s golf teams are from Ecuador, Venezuela, Canada, Switzerland, Sweden, Norway and England
“I was impressed with what I saw from their results, their agencies and our phone calls — Iceland has a great pool of talent,” said Flippo.
On Sept. 29, the Newman Jets teed off for their two-day home tournament — the Newman Fall Invite — at Sand Creek Station in Newton, Kansas. All 23 players across the men’s and women’s golf teams competed in an NCAA Division II tournament. The women’s golf team finished in a tie for sixth, while the men finished second.
“Diverse, unique, talented and cultured,” is how Flippo described his students after their one-off home tournament for the year.
Asgeirsson’s love of the game
Asgeirsson began playing golf at age 8, and it didn’t take long before he was hooked.
“My aunt signed me up for golf lessons,” he said. “Before then, I had plastic clubs which I was putting around the house, but I enjoyed golf and loved being outside.”
As time progressed, the idea of college in the U.S. soon became a reality rather than a dream.
“My coaches and older friends had spoken to me about how good it was. A lot of the good guys in Iceland go to America. As I continued to compete and progress, I realized it was something that I should seriously consider.”
The psychology major from Hafnarfjörður hopes that his time away from home will be worth it in the long run — and so far, he said, it has.
In his first-ever collegiate event with the Jets, Asgeirsson carded a hole-in-one at The Mule in Warrensburg, Missouri, in September 2024.
“I want to be a professional golfer, to try at least,” said Asgeirsson. “Being here means I can practice outside on grass all year round, not just (artificial) grass like in Iceland for half of the year. If not, then I will consider being some sort of therapist, if that’s owning my own clinic where I can practice myself and manage the place, or even maybe go into sports psychology.”
Goals and aspirations aside, being so far from home has its tough moments. Asgeirsson thanked his “really nice” family for their love and support, including “mom, dad, girlfriend, sister, nieces and nephews.”
New faces
Meet Gunnarsson
New to the men’s golf team is first-year student Gunnarsson — a business data analytics major from Reykjavik, the capital city of Iceland.
Despite having been on campus for less than two months, Gunnarsson said the friendliness of people at Newman makes it feel like a second home.
“Even when my parents came to orientation, one of the staff came up and talked to them for probably an hour.” said Gunnarsson. “My parents had no clue what college is like in America, but they had a better idea after that conversation — everybody wants to help you succeed. It’s wonderful for sure.”
The road to collegiate golf in the States initially wasn’t clear for Gunnarsson, who played competitive soccer and boxing growing up. It wasn’t until a playoff win of the U16 championship that Gunnarsson decided to take golf more seriously.
“We ended up taking home the championship. I’ve never been more nervous in my entire life, and I was shaking for probably two hours afterwards — but it was the most fun I’ve ever had. That was when I was like, ‘OK, this is it. This is what I want to pursue,’” said Gunnarsson.
As Gunnarsson continues to settle in at Newman, he hopes the next few years bring new adventures and lifelong memories.
“I’m open to everything, but at the end of the day, I’m doing what I love, I just want to see where it leads me.”
Get to know Bjarnadottir
New to the women’s golf team is freshman Bjarnadottir, a business management major from Mosfellsbaer, Iceland.
Bjarnadottir has always had golf in the fabric of her family life. Growing up just two minutes from her hometown course in Iceland, the sport became a summer tradition that bonded generations together.
“My dad, brother, grandmother and I all play golf — my grandmother is the biggest golfer. She loves golf, and we loved playing it together. One time, my grandfather had to go to the hospital, and she said, ‘I’m going to finish my round first and then I’ll come meet you!’ So that explains a lot of what golf means to us,” she said with a laugh.
That deep connection to the game eventually brought Bjarnadottir to Newman University, where she has found comfort in the community and the campus itself.
“I love that it is a smaller school and that you can get around to classes, the golf room, the cafeteria and the dorms within like two minutes,” she said.
Adjusting to life thousands of miles away from her family has been a challenge.
“I think for everybody who moves abroad, it’s always going to be a big change. It’s not like your parents are by your side — now you have to do everything for yourself,” she said. “So I think for the main part it’s a lot of maturing and becoming independent.”
Looking back, Bjarnadottir realizes the move has been worth it, and she is optimistic for the future.
If she could give herself advice six months ago, she’d say, “It’s going to be alright — everybody is so nice and welcoming and everyone wants to do everything for you to make it a good experience.”
She added, “Most people are super stressed before they do something this big — just move across the world — so I would just tell myself that it’s going to be alright, take the jump and not to worry.”
The world is smaller than it seems
While their journeys are each different, these golfers share the same courage to leave home and embrace new opportunities. Now in a city larger than their home country, the three from Iceland have found a second home and a team that welcomes them as family.
Whether they are led to professional golf, careers in business or back home to Iceland, their time at Newman is already historic.
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