May 7, 2011

Recap

2011 NCAA Central Regional Women’s Golf Championship
Warren Golf Course – University of Notre Dame – Notre Dame, Ind.
May 5-7, 2011
Day Three Coaches and Player Quotes

Player Quotes

Emma Lavy – Arkansas – Freshman

On her three-under par round today:
“It felt great today, especially after (shooting +8 and +10) the last two days. I missed a few putts early on today, but I told myself if I can keep giving myself chances I should make a few, and then a few putts dropped. I didn’t realize I was three under (at the end) until I looked at the scorecard. I was just playing shot-by-shot.”

Stephanie Kono – UCLA – Junior

On her play in the last round shooting a 4-under:
“I thought I played really well today. I hit a lot of really good shots and gave myself a lot of birdie opportunities. I converted a lot of those opportunities. I had felt really good the past two days, but it was disappointing that my score didn’t show it. I knew I had today to show what I have and to put it all together, and it seemed like a few more putts dropping.”

On her teammates’ performances:
“I think our team has a lot of talented players and we are all really good, and we have been waiting to peak. Hopefully we will all be able to play at a high level in two weeks.”

Megan McChrystal – LSU – Senior

On her play today:
“I was at four-under after eight holes, and that was just really solid golf. This is a tough golf course, and you have to grind your way around, and as soon as you shoot a bad shot, you are penalized. You can’t get away with any bad shots out here.”

On looking forward to playing in the NCAA Championship:
“I am heading in the right direction. I had a couple of rough tournaments at Georgia and the SEC’s, so it was good to strike the ball well here and make some putts, and really just try to remember how to play well. There are still a few things that I have to work on for (the NCAA Championship), but I am glad we have a week to go home and get ready.”

Lindy Duncan – Duke – Sophomore

On advancing to the NCAA Championship as an individual:
“I’m really proud. I fought hard this week. It was not an easy week, and I really tried to stay patient. Today really wasn’t the back nine that I hoped for and it was a tough day, but I am really thankful to be going to (the NCAA Championship).”

Maribel Lopez Porras – Tulane – Sophomore

On advancing to the NCAA Championship after a one-hole playoff:
“I never expected to have to play again today (after the morning wave) when I finished and we didn’t qualify as a team, but then they told me that maybe I had a chance at (advancing) as an individual. It was tough with all of the really good teams and players here. I’m out of classes now, so I should have a lot of time to practice, and I have played the course (at College Station) before, so I really know to practice my short game and the other little things.”

Coaches Quotes

UCLA Head Coach Carrie Forsyth

On her team’s play throughout the tournament:
“I am proud of the girls. This is a tough course, but I think we played it really well. I think all of the girls had times where they were excellent. We didn’t quite put it all together, but we still won, and that’s pretty neat, but we can do better. It was tough out there today, with a few girls missing putts, but overall it’s great to have come here and not had to deal with a lot of stress.”

On Stephanie Kono’s four-under round today:
“That was really awesome. She has been on the verge lately of shooting some good golf, and I had actually just been talking to my sister about how we needed someone to really take us low on a round, and then (Stephanie) shot a 68 and I was like ‘OK, there we go.'”

On looking ahead to the NCAA Championship:
“I think that everybody has things they need to work on. At the end of the day, we need to be more consistent. We know what we can do as players, but we have to put it together for four rounds, and that is challenging. I feel good about where we are, and we can use this next week to prepare well and go into that tournament really ready to be consistent and shoot the numbers that need to be shot to get it done.”

LSU Head Coach Karen Bahnsen

On the team’s play today:
“To be honest, today we were really trying to win it all. We made a few bogies at the end, but the girls played tough and I’m proud of them because they kept fighting all the way through the end and that’s what it takes.”

On going on to the National Championship:
“This tournament has been a building block for us. We had a great fall, and then in the middle we weren’t playing our best golf, but you have your ups-and-downs, and I feel like our team is really on the rise and we have really good form. We have to go home to final exams, which is tough, but the girls are going to do that and keep practicing. I really love that golf course at Texas A&M. We did really well there in the preview, and I am excited and can’t wait to get back and attack that golf course.”

Minnesota Head Coach John Harris

On his team making the NCAA championship:
“It’s just great. The team played well and I am so proud of them. They have played great these past three days, and I knew they had this in them. I’m not sure they thought they had it in them, but they played great. We have tried to keep (our expectations) pretty guarded and close to the vest, but this is rare air for us and they played great. Hopefully they will realize that they are a great team that played well, and also recognize that this course fit our game perfectly.”

Arkansas Head Coach Shauna Estes-Taylor

On her team’s combined one-over score for today’s round:
“This has been a great championship golf course, and after the first day we were kind of behind the eight ball a bit, but this group has persevered all year long, and I actually had a calm in knowing that this would be our day, and they went out and did exactly what they needed to do in probably some of the most stressful golf conditions you could have, trying to get in the national championship. I am so proud of this group, we have done it as a team all year long, and we look forward to heading to College Station for the NCAA Championships and a (shot at a) title.”

On Emma Lavy’s three-under par round today:
“She has gotten better every week. I think she was a little nervous coming out of the blocks, but she got really comfortable from the get-go today, and as a freshman, to shoot three-under par in one of toughest golf courses, and under the conditions it is just fantastic, and I think it shows that we have a bright future in Fayetteville.”

Notre Dame Head Coach Susan Holt

On her team moving on to the NCAA Championship for the first time:
“This has been our goal every year since I got here five years ago, and the goal hasn’t changed, and it is exciting to have it finally happen. Coming into this tournament, there were a lot of unknowns. At regional’s there are so many good teams, and with hosting there is some many more distractions and expectations, and I think the team did a great job handling everything. In the next week, the team needs to hit the books and study hard since they have finals coming up, and there will be a lot of one-on-one practicing going on between now and when we head to (College Station) Texas, but I’m not at all worried. I believe they’ll get it done, and I’m looking forward to it.”

Wake Forest Assistant Coach Robin Walton

On her team’s play today:
“I’m really proud of (my team). To come out of that afternoon wave and get the eighth spot was a great performance by the team. We were sweating it out with the rain delay. We thought we may get washed out with it, but the girls were focused and ready to play. I could tell that they had it in them. Our biggest opponent was time and the rain delay, but they pulled it out. I think today was a great springboard. Anytime you can go out and accomplish something and learn that you can get something done, it’s great for your mental game and I hope we can springboard off this to a good finish.”