As the season nears its climax, the one competition that remains can make or break a promising season – the NCAA championships.
For the No. 2 UCLA women’s golf team, hunting down victory is the only objective at the 72-hole tournament that begins Tuesday in Tulsa, Okla.
“We want to go out there, play the absolute best we can and win,” said coach Carrie Forsyth, who has led the Bruins to two previous titles in 2004 and 2011. “We are focusing on playing our most solid and strategic golf right now, and if we aren’t successful, we are going to be as close as we possibly can.”
UCLA enters the competition in excellent form following its 17-shot victory in the regional competition just 10 days ago, a feat that Forsyth believes will give the team many advantages when it tees off at the Tulsa Country Club.
“It was a huge confidence builder for everyone first off,” Forsyth said. “But it also means that we will be playing with the other regional winners and that is great motivation for us. The girls from these teams have played together all year and that will give them a sense of comfort out on the course that I think is in our favor too.”
However, the Bruins are under no illusions about the challenge that faces them over the four-day competition. On top of being paired with the other regional champions No. 1 USC and No. 10 Vanderbilt, the 24-strong field includes a further 14 teams ranked inside the nation’s top 25.
“It is not going to be easy but we are trying to just treat it like any other tournament,” said assistant coach Alicia Um-Holmes. “Aside from practice, we have just been focusing on relaxing and making sure that we don’t put too much pressure on ourselves.”
UCLA will be led in what is its 27th NCAA championship appearance by freshmen Alison Lee and Bronte Law and junior Erynne Lee, all of whom were selected for the 2014 Curtis Cup earlier in the season.
Completing the lineup and also hoping to help guide the Bruins to a fourth national title is senior Ani Gulugian and sophomore Louise Ridderstrom.
“The girls are all excited to start playing and are so happy to be here,” Um-Holmes said. “They are all laughing and enjoying themselves but they are keeping focus and are ready for the job at hand.”
Compiled by Doug Gadsby, Bruin Sports contributor.