Oct. 13, 2014
Celeste Burnham
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In the second fall season for UCCS women’s golf, freshman Alex Darwin helped lead the mountain lions to a record-setting season.
With her tie for 10th at the final Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference event this fall, Darwin had her second top ten finish of the fall. As a team, the mountain lions turned in the best round in program history Sept. 23.
Darwin got started in golf through the influence of her father and has been playing the game since she was five.
“My dad taught my sister and I when we were really little,” said Darwin.
Originally from Albuquerque, N.M., she chose UCCS because of the campus and the new women’s golf program and coach.
“Coach Farnsworth was everything that I ever wanted in a coach so it all fell together perfectly,” said Darwin.
He plan goal entering the season has been adjusted due to her success.
“My goal was to have a scoring average of a 78 but that has definitely changed,” she said. “It’s lower now.”
Darwin lowered her best single round score throughout the season, from 76 down to 74. On day one of the Western New Mexico Fall Intercollegiate tournament, Darwin broke the school record formerly held by Laura Gritz, and teammate Michelle Romano broke Darwin’s record the next day.
“It’s a good feeling,” said Darwin. “I haven’t consistently shot that well. It’s a little bit surprising but it’s very rewarding.” Darwin writes down her goals before a tournament, something she said helps her concentrate.
“Not necessarily the score, but the things I want to do well. I think that takes some pressure off,” she said. In the second RMAC event of the season Darwin turned her game around on the second day.
“Seeing that I can have a bad day, and come back and have a really good day, I’m excited that I could put two rounds together to make it into the top ten,” she said.
Darwin measures golf through the concept of team, not just individual scores.
“It took time but I think traveling together and being together almost every day of the week, we became better friends and had fun,” said Darwin.
The improvement this fall has inspired Darwin for the spring season. “I think that we’ve seen a glimpse of what we can do.
“I think staying focused on how we can be getting better and not staying content will be part of the challenge,” she said.
With the end of the fall season, Darwin will continue to focus on her business major. She is ready to get into what Coach Farnsworth calls her “attack” mode in the spring.
“I’m sad the season’s over. I don’t know what I’m going to do with my time,” said Darwin.