What began as a typical warm, slightly breezy day at Arizona National Golf Club quickly ruptured into a gusty wind that changed the entire game plan of the course.
One would think that with the No. 8 Arizona women’s golf team hosting the Wildcat Invitational in Tucson this week, they would have no problem claiming victory in an otherwise competitive tournament.
After all, the team practices on this course day in and day out, mastering its tricky par-three holes and battling through the long, narrow par-fives that make the course so special. The Wildcats now have to think differently realizing that at any given point, the course can become as if they have never seen it before.
Yesterday afternoon the tournament concluded with the Wildcats finishing in fourth place at a combined 47-over-par, 15 strokes behind tournament champion No. 15 Oklahoma State.
“”It could be an advantage and a disadvantage,”” senior Alison Walshe said of the team’s familiarity with the course. “”We play here everyday and it is usually not windy, so it was a lot different for us.””
Walshe tied for fifth place individually posting a 7-over-par for the tournament.
Despite the
It could be an advantage and a disadvantage … We play here every day and it is usually not windy, so it was a lot different for us.
– Alison Walshe,
senior
windy conditions, the Wildcats played as they had throughout the tournament, choosing team-play over individual talent.
For the third straight day the Wildcats did not have a teammate shooting in double digits over par, something no other team can claim. The closest was junior Amanda Wilson who shot a nine-over-par-80 to finish 20-over-par for the tournament and in a tie for 49th place individually.
Even Oklahoma State who claimed victory in the tournament, had to make due with the fact that they could not achieve such a prominent statistic.
The Wildcats can’t go without recognition for such a strong performance by the team. Freshman Alejandra Llaneza shot a five-over-par-76 for the day to finish at 11-over-par for the tournament in a tie for 16th place.
Senior Mary Jacobs shot a three-over-par-74 in the final round, finishing at 14-over-par for the tournament, which placed her in a tie for 24th.
Sophomore Emily Mason shot a seven-over-par-78 to finish at 16-over-par for the tournament.
Whether the tournament loss is blamed on the small mistakes made or the strong wind current that took everyone by surprise, the Wildcats can be happy about their team play.
“”I thought we did pretty well. I’m happy with it,”” said Walshe.
