Women unable to get off tournament bubble
Beavers return strong lineup next year, including top golfers Whitney French, Cara Freeman, Lauren Archer
John Daly
Issue date: 5/5/09 Section: Sports
Freeman is beginning to establish herself in her game and is a threat to win any tournament she enters. After her strong second-place performance in her first event as a sophomore, she knows it is only a matter of time before she can post scores like that consistently, and perhaps take home a champion trophy.
"I have improved a lot mentally," Freeman said. "In the spring, I worked on slowing everything down and taking more things into consideration, like wind, for example. I just grew up as a player - it wasn't just one thing that I improved on this year, it was more of an all-around improvement."
Joining Freeman near the tops of the tournament leaderboards this season has been the solid, consistent veteran Archer. With a steadily improving stroke average, (currently 74.4 in final rounds), Archer looks ahead to next season with confidence.
"I think I have mostly improved my consistencies this year," Archer said. "It starts with being accurate off the tee, putting me in a better position to score. Overall, I am a more solid player than I was last year. I am definitely looking forward to the upcoming season; I think we are definitely going to improve a lot and I am excited about that. It will be my senior year, so I will want to go out with a bang."
The Beavers' current tournament lineup boasted only one senior, Burkard, one of the many reasons that players and staff alike are looking ahead to next season with confidence in their talented returning players.
Burkard has had a stellar tenure as a Beaver, however, and her absence next season will be evident. She will always remember her years with OSU, especially her sophomore year, when she shot a scorching 3-under-par 68 at the harrowing Stanford Golf Course, tying her for third place all-time on the school's low round list. Her 68 aided the Beavers in setting the record for the lowest round in school history. Burkard plans to go pro shortly after her tenure at OSU.
"As a team, we are a lot stronger after this year," Burkard said. "The incoming freshmen [recruits] are very good, and I think the team will do well. I think they will make it to regionals, and making it to nationals would be great. Lauren has been playing very well this year, and Cara is also strong. Also, our two freshmen proved themselves a lot this year."
"I have improved a lot mentally," Freeman said. "In the spring, I worked on slowing everything down and taking more things into consideration, like wind, for example. I just grew up as a player - it wasn't just one thing that I improved on this year, it was more of an all-around improvement."
Joining Freeman near the tops of the tournament leaderboards this season has been the solid, consistent veteran Archer. With a steadily improving stroke average, (currently 74.4 in final rounds), Archer looks ahead to next season with confidence.
"I think I have mostly improved my consistencies this year," Archer said. "It starts with being accurate off the tee, putting me in a better position to score. Overall, I am a more solid player than I was last year. I am definitely looking forward to the upcoming season; I think we are definitely going to improve a lot and I am excited about that. It will be my senior year, so I will want to go out with a bang."
The Beavers' current tournament lineup boasted only one senior, Burkard, one of the many reasons that players and staff alike are looking ahead to next season with confidence in their talented returning players.
Burkard has had a stellar tenure as a Beaver, however, and her absence next season will be evident. She will always remember her years with OSU, especially her sophomore year, when she shot a scorching 3-under-par 68 at the harrowing Stanford Golf Course, tying her for third place all-time on the school's low round list. Her 68 aided the Beavers in setting the record for the lowest round in school history. Burkard plans to go pro shortly after her tenure at OSU.
"As a team, we are a lot stronger after this year," Burkard said. "The incoming freshmen [recruits] are very good, and I think the team will do well. I think they will make it to regionals, and making it to nationals would be great. Lauren has been playing very well this year, and Cara is also strong. Also, our two freshmen proved themselves a lot this year."
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