March 13, 2018
Derek Lee
With four invitationals in the span of one month, followed by the RMAC Championships and NCAA Regional Tournaments, the women’s golf team has plenty to prepare for.
The team began the fall season with high rankings. At the CSU-Pueblo Invitational in September, the team placed in No. 1 out of 12 teams. Also in September, at the RMAC North, the team came in No. 2.
Now, as the team prepares for the Otter Invitational March 19-20, the first tournament of the spring, Sadie Farnsworth, head coach of the women’s golf team, said that the team is focusing on a well-rounded training regimen.
“We want to be strong both mentally and physically during this final stretch, so we can make a run at the RMAC title, as well as a spot in the NCAA Regional Tournament,” Farnsworth said in an email.
Farnsworth said that the basic preparation for each invitational is similar. However, the preparation could change weekly, depending on how the girls are progressing from tournament to tournament.
The team prepares for every tournament determined to perform their best, according to junior Megan Vernon in an email.
“In our preparation for the spring season, we have been working on our mental games. It’s extremely important to be mentally strong in golf as (the team) has the talent to play good golf,” said Vernon, a PGA golf management major.
Moving into the spring season, the team focused on their mental approach to the game as part of this regimen, according to Vernon.
“In the winter, with the inclement weather, we have been working as a team to improve our mental approach to the games. We have been working out in the gym twice a week,” said Vernon.
However, a long break in between the first and second half of the season can be both beneficial and detrimental.
“If you don’t stay focused on improving and staying prepared for the spring, then it can be a bad thing. But we do our best to stay focused on the positives,” said Farnsworth.
“While there’s no replacing being on the course, it’s beneficial for the team to assess where we are and how to best improve. As we move forward into our competitive schedule in the spring, it’s critical that each member of the team get their game in good shape,” said Vernon.
Six underclassmen and three upperclassmen are on the team this year, making the women’s golf team one of the youngest teams in the RMAC conference. According to Vernon, being a young team has advantages.
“(Underclassmen) are a driving force in our success as a team currently and in the future. Our coaches have recruited good young players which push all of us to be better,” said Vernon.
Vernon also feels that it’s important as an upperclassman to be a mentor and good example to the underclassmen.
“The team, including our coaches, provide a great dynamic which led to our success in the fall,” said Vernon. “We motivate and encourage each other to do our best every day, whether in the classroom or on the golf course.”
Both Farnsworth and Vernon are adamant in what they want the team to accomplish in the rest of the season.
“We can’t afford to get caught looking too far ahead. We know what our goals are and that is to win RMAC and advance to the NCAA Regional Tournament,” said Farnsworth.
“After placing second and third the last two seasons, our team goal this season is to win the RMAC Championship,” Vernon said.
The first invitational of the second half will be the Otter Invitational and takes place in Pebble Beach, Calif. on March 19-20.
For more information on the women’s golf team, go to gomountainlions.com.