Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Watching Emily Powers on the golf course, it is easy to think the game comes naturally to her. But she knows it is all about practice.
Powers, the sophomore from Quincy, Ill., leads the Jayhawks in scoring average and has finished either first or second on the team in every tournament so far this spring. Powers started the game at the age of 10 and her life has revolved around golf ever since.
“I started playing with my grandparents and my dad at first,” Powers said. “I took lessons when I first started, then I played with my dad once I was good enough.”
Powers’ grandparents owned a country club, which allowed her to get into the game early. It also helped that her grandparents and dad were huge fans of the game as well.
Jeff Jacobson
Powers also played soccer, but she chose to focus on golf by her sophomore year in high school because she understood that golf was going to get her somewhere in life. Her choice to come to Kansas, despite out-of-state costs, was a simple one. Powers came to Kansas to play for coach Erin O’Neil and the Jayhawks.
“I really loved Coach,” Powers said. “I like to think of Lawrence as my second hometown.”
Powers mentioned other schools were on her mind, but Kansas was always the frontrunner. Coach O’Neil understood what she was getting when she recruited Powers.
“I knew coming in she would be an impact player,” O’Neil said.
O’Neil isn’t surprised by Powers’ quick rise to the top of the team’s leaderboard. Powers is one of the most experienced players on a team that consists mostly of freshmen, with a few seniors. O’Neil said she could see the potential leadership abilities in Powers, as she has spoken to the team on numerous occasions.
“I’ve tried to,” Powers said of being an emerging leader. “I know I’m not the oldest on the team, but I’m there when the freshmen come to me, helping them get adjusted.”
The Jayhawks seek to make their best finish in the Big 12 Tournament this weekend, by placing higher than seventh.
Kansas’ highest Big 12 finish was seventh in 1997.
Powers understands the pressures that can come from having the team’s best scoring average.
“I’m a more go with the flow person,” Powers said, regarding how she handles certain pressures. “Everybody has pressure to do well, because we all want our best scores.”
Powers and the rest of her teammates value whatever free time they can get, whether they spend it playing board games, walking to a movie or eating together.
“We all like to hang out,” Powers said. “But golf takes up a lot of time.”
Powers doesn’t mind being an out-of-state student. She isn’t bothered by the long distance between Kansas and her home in Illinois.
“It’s been fine. I’ve actually always wanted to be able to get away from home,” Powers said. “To get somewhat of a fresh start.”
For the Jayhawks to have a great start this weekend, Powers understands what the team has to do and what the team has the ability to do.
“We need to stay down the middle and if we have a bad hole, know it’s not going to be the end of the world,” Powers said.
Powers is ready for her team to show what they can accomplish in a competitive Big 12 Conference.
“We have a chance to finish in the top three, if everyone plays well and up to their abilities,” Powers said.
If the Jayhawks can accomplish that, they may make history this year.
—Edited by Russell Davies
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