Thursday, February 10, 2005
Kansas women’s golf coach Erin O’Neil knows her team has a lot of experience to gain this semester.
With no seniors on the squad and only three juniors out of nine players, the team must look to a younger generation to lead them.
Last semester was a good start, as the Jayhawks finished in the top 10 in their last three events, including a first-place finish at the Marilynn Smith Sunflower Invitational held at Alvamar Golf & Country Club, Oct. 11-12. With 11 teams competing, Kansas won by a 15-stroke margin.
Since the break, the players have practiced improving their mental game, which is probably the biggest challenge golf has to offer, O’Neil said. Her players are reading the book “With Winning in Mind,” by Lanny Bassham.
O’Neil said she wanted her players to read a few chapters a week so they could have positive attitudes going into each shot. Even though the book is not about golf specifically, O’Neil still thinks it is a good tool.
“We want the girls to apply the book to golf,” O’Neil said.
The short game is another aspect the team has been practicing.
advertisement
“I have them do a lot of wedge work. They’ll hit 20 shots from 40 yards, another 20 from 60, and another 20 from 80,” she said. “Also, I’ll place nine balls in different areas and make the players get up and down.”
O’Neil said her team is ready despite the weather. The players retreat to their indoor practice facility when it is impossible to get outside to play.
“It really affects our short game,” sophomore Jill Womble said. “All you can do in the indoor facility is hit balls off of a mat. We don’t even get to putt.”
The Jayhawks took advantage of clear skies and warm weather last week and actually had an opportunity to play a few rounds.
“Last winter we didn’t get to play at all,” Womble said.
The team will be able to prove just how far they have come during the six scheduled events this spring. If they improve enough, the regional championships are definitely within striking distance, O’Neil said.
“There is no reason why we can’t make it to regionals,” she said.
The Jayhawks don’t want to get ahead of themselves, however. Womble said that the team’s goals this semester were to keep improving like they have been, work for every shot and be prepared for anything that comes their way while keeping an eye on regionals.
....
Women's Golf Schedule
The women’s golf season begins Feb. 28 when the team heads to Texas A&M.; Kansas coach Erin O’Neil said she expected her young team — that features just three upperclassmen — to make it to May’s NCAA regionals. The Jayhawks will participate in six events before regionals.
DATES EVENT LOCATION
Feb. 28 - March 1 Texas A&M; “Mo”morial Invitational College Station, Texas
March 11-13 Betsy Rawls Longhorn Invitational Austin, Texas
March 18-20 LSU Cleveland Classic Baton Rouge, La.
March 26-27 Mountain View Collegiate Tucson, Ariz.
April 9-10 Lady Boilermaker Invitational West Lafayette, Ind.
April 22-23 Big 12 Conference Championship Austin, Texas
May 5-7 NCAA Regional Championships TBD
May 17-20 NCAA Championship Corvallis, Ore.
Source: KU Athletics Department
Jayhawks take 5th in Big 12 tourney
The victory could earn the women’s team a spot in the NCAA ...
Women’s golf adds strong competitors to roster
Coach Erin O’Neill wants her players to prepare intensely for every tournament.
Jayhawks shoot for regionals
Players focus on upswing in 2006
Golf team to play in Georgia tournament
The Jayhawks won the individual and team titles at the Duramed Invitational ...
Team confident after Qdoba invitational
Jayhawks look to heat up as they play in warmer weather.
Jayhawks place fifth with young squad
Coach O'Neil thinks that the team could have done better, but sees ...
Jayhawks to return top players
Kansas' top golfers to return.
Women’s golf team to face challenge in ...
The women’s golf team finished in fifth-place in last week’s tournament in ...
Women’s golf team earn 13th in Alabama
Fall season ends but golfers will still swing
Women’s golf rises to third
Seasoned team of returners place three times higher than last year at ...
Team takes ninth at Ohio State
Women’s golf players say the tough course shows off their weaknesses and ...
Hawks finish fourth in tournament
Women’s golf team fights 40 mph winds at Susie Berning Maxwell Classic.
Women’s golf team strives for successful start
The women’s golf team will play in the Chip-N-Club Invitational today in ...
Golfers compete throughout summer
Despite losing senior power player, Coach O’Neil looks for team to improve ...
Women’s golf to compete in top-tier tournament
The women’s golf team will play against several ranked teams this weekend ...
Jayhawks head to Rio Verde Collegiate Invitational
Women’s golf hopes to repeat last year’s win the invitational in Arizona ...
Jayhawks focus on short game strategy
The Big 12 tournament looms on the horizon.
Golfer drives team to regionals
Coach pleased with team’s achievement at Fresno ...
Coach Erin O’Neil noticed an improvement from sophomore Emily Powers, especially after ...
Women’s golf team heads for Big 12 ...
Back to the Big 12.
Hawks capture title
Sophomore Camilla Svensson tied for fourth in her first appearance this season.
Women's golf travels to Florida for final ...
The Jayhawks have found a sense of team in a sport ruled ...
Wind a factor in inconsistent play
ESPN to air from KU
Student reports rape to Lawrence police
Sport Briefs: October 15, 2007
Cross country men, women compete in NCAA Pre-Nationals.
Freshman earns top 20 finish in Tulsa
The women’s golf team improved on the final day of the Dale ...
Kansas women’s golf adapts to unusual weather ...
Jayhawks finished 10th at Big 12 tournament in Lawrence.
Arkansas golfer will join KU team
Former Kansas high school state champion Katy Nugent will come to KU ...
Women's Golf Preview
Women’s golf takes round on new course
The golf team is utilizing the practice round to maximize first-time play ...
Player advances to regional tournament
Top player, sophomore Emily Powers, qualified for the NCAA Golf West Regional ...
’Hawks to face improved teams
Team off to Big 12 Tournament in ...
Women’s golf expects to face tough competition this weekend.
Jayhawks finish third overall
Kansas struggled in the first rounds in Norman, Okla., but improve four ...
From left: Kimberlee Hinkle, Libby Johnson and Hannah ...
1 comment
Kansas Jayhawk fans hold aloft a reproduction of ...
2 comments
Erin Saupe, a Ph.D. student from St. Cloud, ...
1 comment
0 comments
Armed robbers continue to threaten.
3 comments
Lecture from Greg Mortenson, co-author of New York ...
0 comments
Comments
Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.
Sign in to comment
Or login with:
OpenID