After what the team felt was a less-than-stellar outing at its last tournament, the Alabama women’s golf team will resume its fall season this weekend when it competes in the Ruth’s Chris Tar Heel Invitational.
The Crimson Tide is coming off an eighth-place finish at the Mason Rudolph Women’s Championship, which matches the team’s worst since a ninth-place finish in October 2009.
“I don’t know that we needed that to happen to us, but certainly we deserved it because we didn’t prepare well,” coach Mic Potter said. “We played some shots out of fear, and playing away from trouble, which as a coach disturbs me.”
The team shot a 21-over 895, which was 45 shots behind event winner UCLA. Senior Stephanie Meadow continued her excellent play, though, shooting a 2-under 214, good for fourth place. Meadow and sophomore Emma Talley have been solid performers for the Crimson Tide so far this season, but the rest of the team has struggled to turn in consistent rounds. Junior Daniela Lendl had the best tournament of her career in the first event but shot 25-over in the last tournament.
“We’ve got to figure out how a girl can go from performing on an elite level to being a shadow of herself,” Potter said. “That goes back to how you handle it emotionally and mentally as much as hitting the golf ball itself.”
Potter said he has to work hard to ensure his players are in the right mental state on the course, which requires a keen insight into their minds.
“Some players need to be highly energetic, so we get them to do jumping jacks, get their heart rate up,” Potter said. “Some need to be at a low level, take some deep breaths and chill out.”
Meadow said having the proper mentality heading into games is key for her.
“You have to practice being in the right mental state. You have to be happy and confident,” Meadow said. “One of the things that really helps me is knowing that I’ve done the particular things I need to do that I know are going to make me play well.”
While Meadow has played well so far, the team will be bolstered by the return of its other senior, Hannah Collier. She will play her first tournament of the season this weekend in Chapel Hill, N.C., on a course where she recorded a 10th place finish as a sophomore. Collier said she is optimistic about her return.
“I feel good,” Collier said. “I was definitely struggling at the beginning of the year, but I’m feeling better about how I’m hitting the ball now, and hopefully it will all come together.”
The tournament tees off Friday at Finley Golf Course in Chapel Hill, N.C.
