Former Auburn women's golf All-American, LPGA Tournament player and current Auburn Director of Golf Operations Danielle Downey, 33, died after a fatal car accident in Auburn late Thursday night.
"I'm absolutely devastated," Auburn head women's golf coach Kim Evans said. "Danielle meant so much to me, the girls and this program. Not only did she give much of her life to Auburn as a student-athlete and as a mentor to these young women, but she was so instrumental to this team during some tough times over the past year. Danielle was like a daughter to me."
A native of Rochester, N.Y., Downey was in her second season serving as the Director of Operations after returning to Auburn to complete her degree.
"This is a tragic and devastating loss for Danielle's family, our student-athletes and staff and the entire Auburn family," Director of Athletics Jay Jacobs said. "Danielle cared deeply about people and she was loved by all who knew her. She impacted a lot of lives here as a player and a member of our staff. Our hearts go out to Danielle's mother and father, her sisters and all who knew and loved her. She will be dearly missed."
Lee County coroner Bill Harris told reporters Friday the accident occurred on the 300 block of Lee Road 57 around 10 p.m. Thursday night. According to Harris, Downey was pronounced dead on arrival just after 11 p.m.
According to a news release from the Alabama State Troopers, weather was not a factor in the crash. The release also stated Downey was not wearing a seat belt at the time.
During the 2012-13 season, Downey stepped up in place of head coach Kim Evans, who had been diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Downey guided the team through NCAA Regionals, earning a place in the NCAA Championship in Athens, Ga. Auburn would go on to take sixth at NCAAs, the team's best finish at the tournament in eight years.
Downey played at Auburn from 1999-2003, earning All-America honors in 2000, 2002 and 2003. She was All-SEC all four years, earning first-team honors three times, and was the 2000 SEC Tournament champion. She also led Auburn to SEC team championships in 2000 and 2003.
Following her Auburn career, she went on to play on the LPGA and Futures Tours.
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UPDATE (Feb. 1, 2014): Auburn will hold a Memorial for Danielle Downey on Thursday, Feb. 13 at 3 p.m. on the scholarship terrace of Auburn Arena.
There will also be a visitation on Feb. 5 and a funeral on Feb. 6 in Rochester, N.Y.
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