After ninth and sixth place finishes at the Illinois and Rocket Spring Classics, the BGSU women’s golf team has been hard at work getting ready for the ultra-important Mid-American Conference Championship.
Sophomore Jessica McCann, who was named MAC Golfer of the week just seven days ago, believes the team is ready to compete with the rest of the MAC this weekend.
“Our focus is really high,” McCann said. “We are making sure we stay positive and work hard. Staying focused throughout the entire tournament will be key.”
Coach Stephanie Young is also confident that the team is ready to go.
“We’re very excited,” Young said. “Everybody’s coming off of strong finishes and playing well.”
The MAC Championship will be taking place from today through Sunday, at the upscale Walden Ponds Golf Club near Cincinnati, with BG serving as tournament host. Every team in the conference will be there, including Kent State, who won the tournament a season ago. Oddly enough, the Golden Flashes will be paired up with the Falcons over the course of the event. Team co-captain Amanda Schroeder knows that keeping up with the Flashes will be very important to her team’s success.
“If we can play with them (KSU) and maintain our focus, we’ll be in great position for the final rounds,” Schroeder said. “If anything, playing with a great team like Kent will be a good learning experience.”
In order to be as competitive as possible this weekend, the ladies have put in a lot of work at practice this week getting their game in check.
Young said the team has been working on short game the most, doing a number of putting and chipping drills.
They’re also paying close attention to reducing stroke totals from 100 yards and in. For Young, minimizing big-score holes will be a huge key to success for her team.
“In the last tournament (Rocket Invite) there would always be one hole that would kill us,” Young said. “We’ve been working on keeping scores lower and getting more pars.”
McCann noted that another way the team is getting ready for the MAC tourney is to imagine they are already at the course.
“We are practicing as if we’re already there,” McCann said. “We are picturing ourselves hitting the shots and making the putts at Walden Ponds.”
Along with all the drills at practice, the team is also preparing for the course itself, learning about its conditions and the way it plays. Schroeder has noticed some things that will help keep scores lower over the course of the three rounds.
“Walden Ponds has thick rough, and keeping the ball straight will determine our scores,” Schroeder said. “If we can control our shots and limit our mistakes, we’ll be in good shape.”
Over the course of this weekend, BG will have a lot to keep track of, from short game to competing with Kent State to just keeping scores low. But the team is focused and ready to make a good showing. Over the course of the spring season, Young has noticed much improvement in the girls.
“Confidence has gotten higher,” Young said. “Everybody is in good spirits. Course management has gotten better and we’re finding ways to score well.”
The first round of the MAC Championship tourney will kick off at 8 a.m today.
MAC Championship Dates: April 28-30 Course: Walden Ponds Golf Club Location: Indian Springs, Ohio (Cincinnati) First Tee Time: 8 a.m. today Tournament Host: BGSU
