June 19, 2006
TEMPE, Ariz. - The Arizona State family lost one of its own when it learned that former Sun Devil golfer and Duramed FUTURES Tour player Gaëlle Truet lost her life in an automobile accident on Sunday. Truet, who competed over the weekend at the Duramed FUTURES Players Championship in Decatur, Ill., was traveling through Indiana when the accident occurred. She was 27 years old.
Truet, who competed at ASU for two seasons and served as an undergraduate assistant during current head coach Melissa Luellen's second season in 2003-04, was in her third season with the Duramed FUTURES Tour, which is the official developmental tour of the LPGA. She had the best finish of her pro career earlier this year when she tied for sixth place at the 2006 IOS FUTURES Golf Classic in El Paso, Texas.
"Gaëlle absolutely loved being a Sun Devil," Luellen said. "Every time we were playing in a tournament she would continually check to see how we were doing and would send us text messages to cheer us on; just as we were always cheering for her.
"She was one of those people who would always bring sunshine into your day. Every one comes into your life for a reason and hers was to remind us to always keep a positive outlook on life. The thoughts, prayers and deepest sympathies of the entire ASU family go out to her family and all those who were fortunate enough to have known her."
Added ASU assistant coach Missy Farr-Kaye, "She was a very special young lady who touched lives everywhere she went. She was a great Sun Devil and she will be sorely missed."
Born July 12, 1978 in Noumea, New Caledonia, Truet played in 21 tournaments in her two seasons with the Sun Devils. She earned Pac-10 Honorable Mention honors in her first season (2001-02) after posting the second-lowest stroke average on the team. That season she was also named to the National Golf Coaches Association All-Scholar Team. She would go on to earn her communications degree from ASU in 2004.
Truet came to ASU after spending a year competing for Northern Arizona University in 2000-01. She recorded three top 20 finishes, including a pair of top 10 showings in her only season at NAU.
Funeral arrangements are pending. A tribute to Truet can be found on the Duramed FUTURES Tour website at http://www.duramedfuturestour.com/Tribute.