Celebrating Women in Sport and Physical Activity - Profiles
Melissa Stob - 2013 Honoree
Melissa (Sneller) Stob with her husband, Doug, and daughter, Sophia.
Melissa (Sneller) Stob literally grew up on a golf course.
“I was strapped to a golf cart while I was in my car seat,” she said. “In my family we say, ‘If you don’t play golf, you’ll be left behind.’”
Stob’s grandparents helped establish Winding Creek Golf Club in Holland. Her parents live near the course and Stob now works there in the summer, helping in the pro shop and giving lessons.
Stob was atop the collegiate golf world in 2005 when she sank a birdie putt on the 18th hole that broke a tie to win the NCAA Division II Women’s Golf Individual Championship. The Laker golf team finished second at the championships in Albuquerque, New Mexico, that year, its best finish ever.
“That was just thrilling,” she said. “My parents were there with me, my boyfriend at the time (now husband) and my sister flew in from North Carolina to be there.”
Stob graduated in December 2005 with a bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance. The following spring, she turned pro and entered qualifying school. It was tough, she said, because of the constant travel required. Stob didn’t earn a tour card but called qualifying school a great experience.
“I learned it wasn’t for me. I also learned there were other things in my life that I wanted to do,” she said.
Shortly after returning to West Michigan, Stob married her college boyfriend, Doug Stob. They have a 2-year-old daughter, Sophia. In addition to working at the golf course, Stob works for an accounting firm during tax season.
Stob graduated from Zeeland High School and was a standout prep golfer. Several colleges recruited her but she said Grand Valley stood out. “For me, the academic portion of college was the most important. I knew when my parents and I drove under the arch for the visit that this was where I needed to be,” she said.
Being able to play and practice at the Meadows was a bonus. “It’s actually one of the hardest college courses I’ve played,” she said.
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