Tigers women’s golf tees up for 2019 season

Practices for this new year have already started for Memphis’ women’s golf team. Next week, the Lady Tigers will begin the second half of their 2018-19 season.

Beth Harrelson, a former Lady Tiger who has been the head coach of the team since 2008, said her team is in good shape to begin the second part of the season.

“Our goal was to be top 50,†Harrelson said. “We ended up being 56 now coming out of the fall season.â€

In collegiate sports, golf is played year-round. The Tigers already competed in five matches before winter break, and will get back in action Feb. 26 in Houston for the Icon Invitational.

The season began in September 2018. The Tigers traveled to Missouri State to compete at the Payne Steward Memorial. Sydney Colwill earned individual finalist honors, and the team claimed the first place shooting 860 over the two days. At the Bettie Lou Invitation later that month, the Lady Tigers set a program record during the final round shooting 278 to finish fourth overall. Redshirt-Senior Michaela Fletcher carded a career low 67, placing her and Colwill both in the top 10.

Harrelson said the girls played well in the first part of the season, but she is excited to challenge them.

“We are a bit behind where we wanted to be, but we are ahead of where we normally are,†Harrelson said.

Now, the focus is on regionals, Harrelson said. In order to do that, the team will have to be top 55 after the American Athletic Conference Tournament that will take place in Palm Coast, Florida from March 14-16. 

“Going into conference, we want to be in the top 45 or 50â€, Harrelson said. “We will need to finish probably top three at the Conference Tournamentâ€.

This is a long way ahead. Harrelson said this second part of the season is the hardest one mentally. 

Golf can be a mental game, and the second part of the season brings along the need for result. Learning how to be mentally strong and how to remain process-driven is something the coaching staff wants to emphasize this spring.

“Golf is not a reaction sport at time,†Harrelson said. “You are creating that action and there is a lot of down time. You cannot panic over the result.â€

Harrelson is also excited for the three seniors. Colwill, Fletcher and Madison Thomas will all wrap up their collegiate career this spring. 

“They all have been great players for us, they elevated our program,†Harrelson said. “They all won tournaments for us.â€

From a personal level, Colwill and Fletcher have their eyes on regionals and post-season.

“I want to be able to go regionals and finish off the season with a bit of a bangâ€, Fletcher said.

Making great shots is not the seniors’ only objective. They also said they want to leave a legacy for those returning to carry on. 

“I want to give them a platform leadership-wise, showing them how to help others on the team and get them to a point where they feel more comfortable next year,†Colwill said.

The Lady Tigers will compete at the Icon Invitational to begin the 2019 season. Practices and qualifiers for this tournament have already started and the team is looking forward to tee up. 

“We are truly a two-semester sport, which is unusual,†Harrelson said. “We are exited to challenge ourselves to move up more.â€

Redshirt Senior Michaela Fletcher looks at her ball rolling on the green. Fletcher was the first player in Memphis history to advance to the NCAA Finals in 2015.