The No. 2 UCLA women’s golf team can start celebrating Mardi Gras a week early on its way back to Westwood after putting an end to rival and top-ranked USC’s record eight-match winning streak in New Orleans.
Powering through adverse weather conditions throughout, the Bruins bounced back from a disappointing finish at the team’s last outing in Palos Verdes in style at the fourth annual Allstate Sugar Bowl Intercollegiate Golf Championship.
In the tournament hosted by Tulane University, UCLA outdueled 17 of the nation’s most competitive teams at the nearby English Turn Golf & Country Club in New Orleans.
After a round one rainout on Sunday, coach Carrie Forsyth commented on the team’s preparation entering a grueling 36-hole Monday filled with more dense fog and threat of rain.
“We were really in a mindset that we were going out to attack the course,” Forsyth said. “Every shot becomes so important because you don’t know how many holes you’re going to get to be able to get in or how many rounds you’re going to be able to compete.”
The Bruins handled the pressure well, closing out the day with a tournament-low score of 277, 11-under par in the second round. The team finished Tuesday with another solid round and sailed to a six-stroke victory over USC and the rest of the opposition.
Forsyth praised the team’s ability to scramble and convert putts under pressure situations, explaining how her team overcame the unfavorable conditions and pressure while playing on a former PGA tour course, designed by Jack Nicklaus .
“Playing from rough lies all the time, you have to make sure you can make your putts when you have to. … We were able to do that the last two days and that was a big part of it,” Forsyth said.
Junior Erynne Lee, the second-highest contributor for the Bruins, explained the team’s success in terms of practice and goals.
“Our entire team played really well this week. It kind of shows how much practice has paid off over the past two weeks,” Lee said.”… We have a lot of motivation and discipline and we have the game to show we are very capable of winning nationals this year.”
Leading the Bruins with a score tied for third-lowest overall individual score in the tournament, freshman Alison Lee finished at 6-under par after three rounds of play.
“I feel like this victory was really good for us because finally we got to beat ‘SC, and it really shows that they are beatable,” Alison Lee said. “We can beat them. It sure prepares us for nationals and that’s what we want.”
As the season continues, UCLA plans to build upon its success playing through unlucky weather, harness this passion and build upon its victorious celebration in New Orleans, with the national championship directly on its mind.