The most prolific women’s golfer in the history of the University of Oregon, Cassy Isagawa, struggled to even contribute to the team in the fall. She hopes to reestablish her past dominance as her senior season hits its final stretch.
Isagawa’s scoring averages in her freshman (72.76), sophomore (72.86) and junior (72.95) seasons rank as No. 1-3 in Oregon history. The senior from Hawaii also earned three All-Pac-12 honors.
In three tournaments this season, however, Isagawa posted a 76.11 scoring average, almost four strokes above her past average.
Isagawa’s struggles seemed to epitomize the team’s issues.
“We definitely had some big numbers on holes this year, especially from Cassy,” coach Ria Scott said in late November. “That’s not typical for her.”
As the team traveled to Hawaii for its final fall tournament, Scott left Isagawa in Eugene.
Searching for a consistent swing, Isagawa looked to Jeff Smith at the Stanford Intercollegiate. Smith is a swing coach based out of Las Vegas who has also worked with other members of the team.
On Oct. 27, Smith posted a video of Isagawa’s swing on YouTube. “Working on right arm folding and left arm roll on the takeaway,” Smith wrote in the description.
Though Isagawa knew it would give her a better chance to improve in the long run, she said it was difficult to miss the final tournament.
“It was just bad timing working with him during the season knowing that I was still in competition,” Isagawa said. “It was a big change for me.”
During the team’s three-month break after the fall, Isagawa experienced another setback. She dislocated her shoulder, an injury from which she is still recovering.
The team returned to Stanford for the Peg Barnard Invitational, the second tournament in the spring season. This time, Isagawa played as an individual, meaning that her performance would not count in the team’s overall score.
Despite not being on the roster, Isagawa said that her second trip to Stanford was valuable.
“I never really had to think about my score counts for the team,” Isagawa said.  “It was really like, ‘I’m playing for myself now. I don’t have to be afraid of anything.’”
Her fearlessness paid off. Isagawa shot 1-under par, 141, finishing fourth overall as the team collected its first tournament victory of the season.
“It was a little different knowing that I didn’t travel to (Hawaii) last fall and I went as an individual to Stanford,” Isagawa said, “but I was grateful that I was chosen to play as an individual at Stanford and that the coaches gave me a chance to prove myself.”
After the season, Isagawa plans to move to Las Vegas to train with Smith in an attempt to join the Ladies Professional Golf Association.
Before she concentrates on going pro, however, Isagawa may play a major role on her current team. The Ducks have finished first and second, respectively, in their past two tournaments with the Pac-12 Championships seven weeks away.
“Cassy has really been working on finding that competitive fire again with golf,” Scott said. “She recognized that the team does need her leadership to do well.”
Follow Jack Heffernan on Twitter @JHeffy13