 "Photo: Tiffany Tran")
Entering the 2008-2009 season, the women's golf team looks to continue on its path of success and try to capture its third Big 12 Championship in four years. The Aggies start the season at No. 16 in the nation, according to Golfweek Magazine. Although the Aggies enjoy the preseason recognition, they said their focus continues to be working hard and winning tournaments.
"The ranking is an honor and can be used as a motivator," said Ashley Freeman, a junior from Belleville, Ill., "But we need to focus on what we need to focus on so we can reach a higher ranking at the end."
The Aggies will be tested quickly when they travel to Owing Mills, Md. to compete in the NCAA Fall Preview Saturday and Sunday. Of the 15 teams competing in the tournament, eight are among the top 10 teams in the country, and only one team is not ranked in the top 25. Despite the talent participating in the tournament, the Aggies said they will finish at the top.
"This is the same competition we face every week," said Head Coach Trelle McCombs. "It is a great honor to be invited, but this tournament is no different from the NCAA Championships."
The Aggies finished tied for sixth place in the NCAA championship, which invites the Top 21 teams in the country. Not only do the Aggies enter the 2008-2009 season with confidence, but they bring back experience with three of last year's five starters returning.
The Aggies will turn to their trio of returning starters, who represent six years of collegiate golf experience, to carry them this season. Senior Lauren Johnson said she will lead both on and off the field with one goal in mind.
"I want to play to win," Johnson said. "Last year was the first year we have not won the Big 12 championship while I've been here, and we want another championship."
Ashley Freeman finished tied for eighth at the NCAA championship and will look to build off that success this season.
"We want to improve throughout the year," Freeman said. "We want to be ready and turn it on during the spring so we can excel at the Big 12 and NCAA championships."
The upperclassmen will not be alone in seeking the Big 12 title as they will have what McComb considers a "dynamic" group of young players. Helping the Aggies win tournaments will be sophomore Sarah Zwartynski. Zwartynski led the team in multiple statistical categories last season including scoring average, fairways hit and birdies. Zwartynski will look to continue her freshman season success this year.
"I just want to keep getting better and help the team win," Zwartynski said.
The women's golf team expects true freshman Crystal Reeves from Broken Arrow, Okla., to step into a starting role. Reeves is used to the pressures of golf as well as winning championships. While playing golf at Broken Arrow High School in 2008, Reeves captured the 6A girls' golf individual state championship. Her ability to handle pressure and win is what made McComb label her a possible "dark horse" on the team.
The Aggies will prepare for the Big 12 championship by playing tournaments and courses throughout the country. The Big 12 championship will be in Lubbock, Texas, at Rawls Golf Course in April.
"One of our major goals is the Big 12 title," McCombs said. "We are going to take this season one tournament at a time. This team has been around the block a few times and they know what it takes."
By the numbers 8 tournaments before Big 12 Championship 3 All-American Scholars in 2007-2008 +49average stroke in 2007-2008 312 birdies in 2007-2008 3 eagles in 2007-2008 1191 strokes for 72 holes, a school record
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