2008 Woodie Awards
Lady'Back golfers looking for SEC Tournament win
Lady'back Notebook
Harold McIlvain II
Issue date: 4/18/08 Section: Sports
With more than two weeks of preparation, the No. 9 Arkansas Lady'Back golf team is ready to play as the team travels to Louden, Tenn., for the program's 13th Southeastern Conference Championship when play begins Friday.
The team has been eager to play in the tournament that is stacked with competition, but Arkansas head coach Shauna Estes-Taylor believes this is a great opportunity for the team to pull away with a win.
"We are excited," she said. "This is what you prepare for all year. We've been working really hard to prepare. And if you look at the rankings, it will be a great competition for us."
Estes-Taylor said that a top three finish would be nice, but the team is looking to make program history by winning its first SEC Championship, she said.
"I actually think I would be a little disappointed [with a top three finish]," Estes-Taylor said. "Winning is what we have talked about this year, and I think this is the first time we have a legitimate chance to go out and do that. A top three finish would be a great, but I want to get the girls comfortable with winning. This is a great opportunity for us."
The Lady'Backs will be led by junior Stacy Lewis, who is the No. 2 golfer at the collegiate level and has won five individual tournaments this year, but the team will be looking for a group effort to win, Estes-Taylor said.
"I think we just need some consistent play [from our other players]," Estes-Taylor said. "It doesn't have to be anything great. Sometimes they put pressure on themselves and think they need to go out and shoot a 72 when they don't have to."
Estes-Taylor said the team will need solid rounds of golf by minimizing mistakes while capitalizing on the par fives if they want to compete for the title. She also said the team will need to finish the tournament strong, which has been a point of emphasis while preparing.
"We've been working a lot [on finishing strong]. We've made t-shirts and signs saying, 'finish strong.' We need to capitalize on that statement for us to be successful," Estes-Taylor said.
The team has been eager to play in the tournament that is stacked with competition, but Arkansas head coach Shauna Estes-Taylor believes this is a great opportunity for the team to pull away with a win.
"We are excited," she said. "This is what you prepare for all year. We've been working really hard to prepare. And if you look at the rankings, it will be a great competition for us."
Estes-Taylor said that a top three finish would be nice, but the team is looking to make program history by winning its first SEC Championship, she said.
"I actually think I would be a little disappointed [with a top three finish]," Estes-Taylor said. "Winning is what we have talked about this year, and I think this is the first time we have a legitimate chance to go out and do that. A top three finish would be a great, but I want to get the girls comfortable with winning. This is a great opportunity for us."
The Lady'Backs will be led by junior Stacy Lewis, who is the No. 2 golfer at the collegiate level and has won five individual tournaments this year, but the team will be looking for a group effort to win, Estes-Taylor said.
"I think we just need some consistent play [from our other players]," Estes-Taylor said. "It doesn't have to be anything great. Sometimes they put pressure on themselves and think they need to go out and shoot a 72 when they don't have to."
Estes-Taylor said the team will need solid rounds of golf by minimizing mistakes while capitalizing on the par fives if they want to compete for the title. She also said the team will need to finish the tournament strong, which has been a point of emphasis while preparing.
"We've been working a lot [on finishing strong]. We've made t-shirts and signs saying, 'finish strong.' We need to capitalize on that statement for us to be successful," Estes-Taylor said.
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