Spring Break
Beavers hit links in UNLV Spring Rebel Invitational
Oregon State plays second tournament of spring season in Boulder City, Nev., looking for low rounds from sophomore Freeman
John Daly
Issue date: 3/9/09 Section: Sports
Just a few short miles south of the Las Vegas strip lies the Boulder City Golf Course, site of the 2009 UNLV Spring Rebel Invitational, where the Oregon State University women's golf team will tee up against familiar foes today, tomorrow and Wednesday.
Confident from a solid performance in South Carolina in late February, OSU is ready for action again in Boulder City, Nev. The 6,234 yard course has a desert feel, which will favor certain OSU players who prefer accuracy over power.
"This is not a golf course with a lot of tricks or secrets; it is just about hitting your target and your landing area in the fairway, and knowing where to miss if you get into trouble," head coach Risë Lakowske said. "I think we should do very well in this field, as long as we stay focused on our goals."
Upon returning home from Kiawah Island, S.C., the women's team has focused chiefly on their short game. Lakowske felt that her players shot very well in their previous tournament, and that they only encountered trouble within the 70-90 yard range. The team usually concentrates on practicing their short game attack in preparation for an event, and last week was no exception.
"In the past few days, we have been really concentrating on pitch shots from between 20 and 80 yards or even 90 yards out," sophomore Cara Freeman said. "I think that working on those is really going to help, especially with the par fives and shorter par fours. I should have more birdie opportunities."
Freeman shot very well in the previous tournament, where she finished 20th overall on the strength of even-par final day.
"When there are over 270 players, a 20th place finish is pretty good," Lakowske said. "She was consistent, striking the ball well the whole time, but just had trouble with her short game. Once her short game got together on the last day, she had five birdies."
Another top player in the upcoming UNLV lineup is junior Lauren Archer, who shot a sizzling three-under-par 69 on the final day in S.C., a career best. Even though the previous tournament's course is widely different from the upcoming course, Archer remains confident and is eager to play the desert-style venue.
Confident from a solid performance in South Carolina in late February, OSU is ready for action again in Boulder City, Nev. The 6,234 yard course has a desert feel, which will favor certain OSU players who prefer accuracy over power.
"This is not a golf course with a lot of tricks or secrets; it is just about hitting your target and your landing area in the fairway, and knowing where to miss if you get into trouble," head coach Risë Lakowske said. "I think we should do very well in this field, as long as we stay focused on our goals."
Upon returning home from Kiawah Island, S.C., the women's team has focused chiefly on their short game. Lakowske felt that her players shot very well in their previous tournament, and that they only encountered trouble within the 70-90 yard range. The team usually concentrates on practicing their short game attack in preparation for an event, and last week was no exception.
"In the past few days, we have been really concentrating on pitch shots from between 20 and 80 yards or even 90 yards out," sophomore Cara Freeman said. "I think that working on those is really going to help, especially with the par fives and shorter par fours. I should have more birdie opportunities."
Freeman shot very well in the previous tournament, where she finished 20th overall on the strength of even-par final day.
"When there are over 270 players, a 20th place finish is pretty good," Lakowske said. "She was consistent, striking the ball well the whole time, but just had trouble with her short game. Once her short game got together on the last day, she had five birdies."
Another top player in the upcoming UNLV lineup is junior Lauren Archer, who shot a sizzling three-under-par 69 on the final day in S.C., a career best. Even though the previous tournament's course is widely different from the upcoming course, Archer remains confident and is eager to play the desert-style venue.
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