When faced with adversity, real athletes dig deeper.
The Oregon women’s golf team are the perfect example. After struggling through the first two rounds of the Ping/ASU Invitational, the Oregon women came firing back in the final round to shoot their lowest single round score this season. Oregon shot a 297 in the final round to place 14th overall.
Hoping to shoot below a 308 in each round, Oregon shot a dismal 314 in the first round Friday to put them in last place. Round two did not go any smoother for the women, as they finished with 316 Saturday, but they had good reason. The entire tournament average was down two strokes in the second round because of horrible winds, but the Ducks were still in 15th place. Then in the final round they turned it all around.
“We had a great team meeting (Saturday) night,” Oregon head coach Shannon Rouillard said. “We decided to enjoy the day, have fun and just play golf. I am really proud of them, and they came through when they really needed to.”
In individual standings, senior Kathy Cho finished first for Oregon in a tie for 31st with a final-round 75 for a final 225. Freshman Johnna Nealy shot a final-round-best 74 to place her in a tie for 46th. Freshman Jess Carlyon and sophomore Lacy Erickson also finished strong with final rounds of 75 and 73 to place in ties for 72nd and 76th, respectively.
Tulsa was able to hold onto the lead to take the title with a final round 286 after moving up from a tie in sixth into first after second round play. Arizona State finished second, six shots back with a final score of 877. In third place, Arizona shot a final round of 290 for a total of 881 in the tournament. Oregon finished in 14th place out of the 15-team field.
“This was a huge confidence builder and gives us so much to look forward to,” Rouillard said. “It was a complete team effort.”
Oregon has a two-week break before beginning the Pac-10 Championships on April 22 at the Walla Walla Country Club in Washington.
The Ducks are not worrying about Pac-10s, Rouillard said, although they are already looking forward to what they need to do in regionals, which begins the first week in May, in order to make it to nationals. What it comes down to is the short game with chipping and putting, Rouillard said.