First-year international golfers ready to make their mark at Newman

Lon Flippo joined the Jets in 2023 as head golf coach for Newman Athletics. Now in his second year, Flippo is thrilled to welcome five first-year players from around the world to the Newman golf roster.

Read on to learn more about the five first-year international golfers, or meet the full team by exploring the men’s and women’s rosters.

Swingin’ in from Sweden

For Mikaela Stenborg of Sweden, it was “a gut feeling” that led her to Newman University.

“I was talking to an agent who showed me the school, I heard from Coach Lon and had another offer in Iowa, but this just seemed like the better school,” she said. “Talking to coach made me feel even better about coming to Newman.”

Stenborg speaks two languages: Swedish and English. She studied technology science in Sweden and continues that path as a computer science major at Newman, which her golf scholarship makes possible and she does not take for granted.

“I’ve actually only been playing golf for four years,” Stenborg said. “I did gymnastics for 14 years and as soon as I stopped with gymnastics I fell in love with golf. Gymnastics gave me a lot of strength that I can use in golf, too.”

She added that golf has made her more confident, adding to her overall outlook on life.

“I feel like golf has taught me that I can do better, become better and do more than just be alive. I feel like golf has given me a purpose.”

‘Experiencing life on the other side of Earth’

Student Herman Olsen, a business administration and management major, traveled more than 4,500 miles from Oslo, Norway, to attend college at Newman University.

“Moving from home is a pretty big change, especially washing my own clothes,” he said. “It’s all up to you. There’s no one to take care of you. You’re by yourself or with your roommate, so you gotta figure things out. It’s a big accomplishment in life, getting older, moving into the grown-up life … experiencing life on the other side of Earth.”

He credited his parents for helping make Newman a possibility.

“My dad is the one who really wanted me to go to Newman with golf,” Olsen said. “I wanted to as well, but he did all the work and paperwork, and he helped me a lot. He’s the one who formed me as the person I am today.”

He added, “I recommend Nemwna because it’s a really good place. Good teachers, a lot of people here. Everyone is friendly and I think it’s a really nice environment if you’re an international student.”

A fun fact about Olsen is that he knows Norwegian, Swedish, English and “a little bit of” French and Spanish.

Once a dream, now a reality

For Daniela Alvarez of Venezuela, golf brings her peace, focus and is an activity she loves to do.

“It was really exciting to learn I received a golf scholarship from Newman because that was always my dream,” she said. “And to play golf on a university team with girls from other countries was so exciting.”

Alvarez is a business analytics major. As someone who loves numbers and business, “it’s a perfect combination,” she said.

Alvarez is grateful to her dad for helping her become the person she is today.

“He’s always been there for me, he also plays golf and has taught me so much,” she said.

England native eager to golf

Charlie Townsend of Byfleet, England, said he “got on really well” with Coach Flippo and decided to transfer from Weatherford College in Texas to Newman University for his junior year.

“I moved halfway across the world to pursue golf, so it’s definitely a big part of my life,” he said.

Townsend, a sports media and promotion major, said he is “very happy to get two more years in America playing collegiate golf.”

He added, “Come on, Brentford, and come on, England!”

A hole-in-one for Asgeirsson

Like many of his fellow players, first-year student Tomas Asgeirsson of Hafnarfjorour, Iceland, discovered Newman thanks to golf.

On Sept. 9, he scored a hole-in-one on the 18th hole in Warrensburg, Missouri, during a competition known as The Mule, a two-day, three-round tournament.

Asgeirsson said he is proud of himself for becoming the person he is today and is eager to continue his journey at Newman. He speaks “two and a half” languages: Icelandic, English and is in the process of learning Danish.

“I’m also studying psychology because I want to be a sports psychologist,” he said.