After another lengthy season for the Oregon women’s golf team, the squad had only one thing in mind after the regional tournament was over in early May: Work hard and get better for next year.
The Ducks saw their season come to an early end at the NCAA West Regional in Tempe, Ariz., on May 9. It was a bittersweet ending for a team that had aspirations to reach the NCAA Championships for the first time since Johnna Nealy qualified individually in 2005.
“Obviously we wanted to qualify for nationals as a team, but that didn’t happen,” sophomore Kendra Little said. “But we did improve from the last time we played ASU, and gave ourselves a legitimate chance at making nationals.”
Though the team did not advance past the regional round, senior Cathryn Bristow qualified individually for the first time in her career after tying for ninth place in the Tempe Regional, and she did so in dramatic fashion. Bristow put together a 3-under 69 final round, which included back-to-back birdies on the 17th and 18th holes, to force a playoff to break the four-way tie. She was able to knock in a birdie during the playoff and punched her first ticket to the NCAAs.
“I’ve been truly blessed with the opportunity to work alongside Cathryn the past two seasons,” Little said. “She has motivated me in working to become a top-tier golfer and has really fueled my fire in becoming more of a leader on the team as well.”
Though Bristow ended up finishing in a tie for 96th at the national tournament, her presence on the course will be undoubtedly missed next fall.
“The loss of Cathryn will be very difficult,” freshman Ashley Edwards said. “She was a great contributor to our team. I think if everyone does their part this summer, we will do just fine.”
Edwards, the team’s lone freshman, had an exceptional first year at the Division I level and will be a key returner for next year’s squad. Bristow and fellow senior Blair Ressler will be the only two not returning to the team next fall, while sophomores Monika Graf and Erica Omlid, and juniors Felecia Eastick and Kate Hildahl will all be back for the 2009-10 campaign.
And while the season ended just less than a month ago, the team already appears focused on its plans for next year.
“I think having them see Cathryn go to nationals and witnessing what a great experience she had will motivate everyone for next year,” interim head coach Meredith Jones said.
Little shared similar feelings, saying she believes the team next year will be ready to make it to nationals when the opportunity surfaces. Many of the girls will begin preparation for that as they return home to work on their individual games before coming back for the fall season.
“I’m playing in tournaments nationwide,” Edwards said. “I am going home over summer to meet with my pro to get a few lessons, get a nice break, then go back to season again. I am very excited for next year.”
While it is still uncertain as to whether coach Jones will be back for another season, the decision should be made sometime within the next few weeks. But with four of the five regional performers coming back next year, the Oregon women’s golf team could be able to reach its goal of making the national tournament.
“The four of us from the regionals team that are returning next year had a chance to talk in the airport after the round, and we’re all on the same page and we all want it really bad,” Little said. “I don’t think you’ll see a harder-working team than us during this offseason.”
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