The Emory women’s golf team finished ninth overall out of 11 teams at the Carnegie Mellon University (Pa.) Tartan Invitational on Oct. 8. The first round of the tournament, which was scheduled for Oct. 7, was cancelled due to inclement weather. After playing on Tuesday, the team finished 56 over par with a total score of 344.
With the first-year program being built solely on freshmen, Coach Futcher acknowledged the importance of every experience.
“The players are at a disadvantage because they have no upperclassmen to show them the ropes,” Futcher said. “However, they are at an advantage because there is such an opportunity for leadership.”
The team was led by Jessie Ji, who finished with a final score of 82, only 10 over par, and finished tied for 14th overall out of 58 golfers. Ji was consistent throughout the day, managing one birdie, seven pars and only one double bogey. Her birdie came on the 18th hole, a putt that brought her even with 14th place instead of leaving her in a tie for 16th.
Only two strokes behind Ji was teammate Alice Acosta, who finished tied for 22nd overall with a score of 84. Acosta also had a birdie and led her team in pars with a total of eight on the 18 holes she played. She recorded most her pars on par 3 and par 5 holes, but faltered on par 4 holes, which yielded all four of her double bogeys.
The other three Eagles — Ksheera Jalakam, Natalie Spitzer and Lillian Knetter — had solid showings but struggled on the tough course. Each had trouble on holes three and four, with each golfer recording at least one triple bogey on one or both of the holes. At the end of the day, Jalakam finished in 38th place with a score of 87, Spitzer finished tied for 46th place with a score of 91 and Knetter finished in 57th place with a total score of 105.
When asked what she expected from her team, first-year Coach Katie Futcher emphasised her team’s mindset, rather than the results.
“I never talk about the results or the end score,” Futcher said. “For me, it’s all about the process and making sure [the team is] as prepared as they can be. We need to control what we can control. It’s about being committed, decisive, having a plan, conducting ourselves in a positive way and learning from our mistakes.”
The Eagles will continue to drive, chip and putt on Oct. 21 at the Chick-fil-A Collegiate tournament at Coosa Country Club in Rome, Ga.
