Strong starts for the men’s and women’s golf teams earlier this week have given them momentum to begin a new weekend of tournaments, players and coaches said.The men’s team placed second out of 15 teams in Toledo, Ohio, and the women placed fourth out of 17 teams in Albuquerque, N.M., earlier this week.
Sophomore Jon McLean and senior Catherine Matranga won the individual titles in their respective tournaments. Although it was her first collegiate win, Matranga said she hopes to win again.
“I’ve wanted to win for three years, and everyone kept telling me it was just a matter of time,” Matranga said. “I hope I keep playing really strong.”
Women’s head coach Angie Ravaioli-Larkin said good preparation contributed to Matranga’s win, and she thinks she will win again this season.
“Once you win your first tournament, the next win comes easily,” Ravaioli-Larkin said. “She’s been hitting the ball the best I’ve ever seen.”
Matranga said she would also like to see the team win tournaments as the season continues.
“We just have to go out there and do what we did in the first tournament,” Matranga said. “We have a lot of momentum right now.”
The team did well in the tournament because they were in good shape physically and mentally, Ravaioli-Larkin said.
“Everyone was just taking care of business,” Ravaioli-Larkin said. “Attitudes were really good throughout the tournament.”
Ravaioli-Larkin said the team has a good chance of winning their next tournament, the Jeannie McHaney Invitational, Monday and Tuesday in Lubbock.
“I think we’re going to be the best team there,” Ravaioli-Larkin said, “but we have to show up and play hard to win.”
Ravaioli-Larkin said she wants her players to focus on achieving individual goal, because if they play their best individually, a team win is bound to happen.
Men’s golf head coach Bill Montigel said that having McLean succeed individually in the first tournament helped the entire team perform well.
“When we have a guy winning, then the team is in a good position,” Montigel said.
The men’s team will play in the Carpet Capital Collegiate Friday through Sunday in Rocky Face, Ga..
Montigel said the team will face strong competition, but he expects the team to do well.