The last 12 months in the world of golf have been all about firsts. Annika Sorenstam tees it up for the first time in a PGA Tour event in May 2003. The four different players who won the majors last year were all first-time winners. Then, just this past week, Phil Mickelson won his first major championship with his victory in the Masters.
This weekend in Clemmons, N.C., another first is about to take place. The Virginia women's golf team will participate in its first ACC tournament.
"Our goal for this tournament is to go in and have a great deal of fun, just enjoy the moment," Virginia coach Jan Mann said.
The women seem to understand how important their performance and attitude are to the development of such a young program. Especially in a tough golf conference, where Duke is the No.1 team in both the conference and the nation, the end-of-the-year tournament is important in setting the tone for what king of competition Virginia will bring to the conference each year.
"We've started fresh," senior captain Michelle Graham said. "All the traditions we're starting will carry on."
This squad is not just young in terms of program status. Graham is the only senior on a seven-member team that boasts six freshmen. In their first year of competition, this young team and program's focus is on building confidence and ability.
"The biggest difference [with a young team] is keeping them relaxed," Mann said. "They tend to put added pressure on themselves. They want to perform, and they want to show everybody that we are an up and rising team."
The youthful nature of the team hasn't stopped Mann from setting high goals and from making the path to those goals a difficult one. According to Mann, the team's schedule is the 36th toughest in the nation, a tall task for a first-year team.
The team "has probably exceeded my expectations," Mann said. "Our goal is to make it to the NCAA regionals. As of right now, [making the NCAAs] will be dependent on how we do in the ACC championships."
The team's last outing was not their best, finishing just 17th out of 18 teams at the Bryan National Collegiate in Browns Summit, N.C. The team was paced by freshman Rachel Smith at the tournament, who shot an 80-75-81-236(+20). Despite the disappointing outcome, the women are showing strides as a team and in their individual abilities.
"Everyone has gotten so much better in their ball striking ability and in their short game," Mann said. "If I had to pick an individual who has made the most progress, it would be Lindsay Robinson, who played number four for us in the fall. She worked hard on her game and has been a real contributor this spring to the team."
This ACC tournament, excluding the NCAA tournament, may be the conclusion of the year for this new addition to the Virginia athletic department. The Cavaliers, like their coach, are looking to continue their season past this weekend. If it is the end, however, they hope to make it a fitting one.
"We are going to enjoy [the tournament], and we think the more fun that we can have as a team and as individuals competing in it, the better we'll do," Mann said.
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