Women's Golf Opens At Texas State Claud Jacobs Challenge
2/17/2012 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
Feb. 17, 2012
By Caleb Barron Media Relations Student Assistant
With each hour of continuous snowfall blanketing Columbia, Mo., Missouri Women's Golf Head Coach Stephanie Priesmeyer knew her job was becoming much more difficult.
Snowpocalypse 2011 shut down the entire university and temporarily left the golf team without a home course just weeks before the start of the spring campaign. Facing a very difficult schedule packed with warm-weather, SEC opponents, Priesmeyer's team had to practice indoors at the Dan Devine Pavilion. To stay familiar with playing on grass, the team drove south to Cape Girardeau, Springfield and Branson on the weekends. A few weeks into the season, the snow's effects were obvious.
"I don't think we set [the team] up to be as successful as we have this year," Priesmeyer says.
With spring competition set to being on Feb. 19, Priesmeyer and the Tigers believe they are poised to put the past season behind them. The schedule features warm locales in Miami, Tucson, Athens, Ga., and Oxford, Miss. The team is slowly progressing toward full health. The players have great chemistry. Opportunity is back again.
After missing the final tournament of the fall season, senior Hannah Lovelock returns as one of the team's senior leaders and top players. With her at full strength, the Tigers moved up 30 spots in the all-important golf rankings this past fall. However, a stingy bout with tendonitis of the wrist rendered Lovelock ineffective for the back portion of the 2011 schedule. The Tigers struggled without her, finishing the season ranked 96th in the country.
To get an at-large bid to the postseason, MU will need to win tournaments and jump into the top 70 or so teams to be considered (winning the Big 12 Tournament would also get it done as each conference gets an automatic qualifier). A healthy Lovelock will certainly help move things in the right direction, but Priesmeyer knows more is needed.
"We're just missing a couple really low stroke averages," Priesmeyer says. "We've got some good support, but we've got to get some low numbers in there."
The low numbers could come from any of the top six players on the team, but Kate Gallagher appears to be the most likely to breakout. The sophomore had a tremendous offseason that has her competing for the top spot on the team.
"With the changes she's made in her swing, it's in a much better place, and I think she's going to be able to have a lot more confidence," Priesmeyer says.
Rounding out the projected top five is sophomore Taylor Gohn, senior Marissa Cook and some combination of sophomore Ariana Savich and freshman Alina Rogers.
Priesmeyer notes the team has an especially strong short game and is playing with more confidence after nearly winning the Big 12 Conference Tournament last season. "With four holes left, we were tied for the lead," Priesmeyer says. "That was kind of the turning point for a lot of those kids to have confidence. They looked totally different; they carried themselves totally different. We remind them that they need to believe."
If the Tigers have an ace in the hole, it may be true freshman Michelle Butler. The highest ranked player the program has ever signed, Priesmeyer first noticed Butler at the AJGA Polo Junior Classic. Soon after, Priesmeyer offered Butler a scholarship, even though the precocious talent from Dunedin, Fla. preferred the SEC. However, Priesmeyer's persistence came through. On Butler's visit to campus, Priesmeyer set up meetings between Butler and an orthopedic surgeon and a team physician (Butler wants to be a doctor). A combination of strong academics and a good fit within the golf program brought Butler to MU.
Two days before the start of the 2011 season, Butler hit a rock on the practice range, suffering a hairline fracture in the process and ending her fall season. Seemingly ready to go in 2012, Butler has been battling mononucleosis the past few weeks and is expected to be out for the first few tournaments of the spring. Priesmeyer is hopeful that Butler will return to full health soon.
"We need to win the Big 12 Championship to get to Regionals," Priesmeyer says. "I feel we will have a good opportunity if she is in the lineup."
Advancing to postseason play would certainly help the program sign talented recruits. Over the past few seasons, the Tigers have been fighting an uphill battle.
"It kind of reminds me of Moneyball," Priesmeyer says. "You're up against the top programs in the country and you're going for the top players. They see your program's ranking and don't know the history of it."
Without Butler, the team has enough talent to make a push. To say the least, the nine girls are a close-knit unit, filled to the brim with team chemistry. Still, the return of one medical student would be welcome.
Players Mentioned
