The Virginia women's golf team is nearing the end of its season and still has something left to prove. With hopes of qualifying for postseason tournaments and finishing on a high note, the team looks to make a run in its final rounds of competition.
The Cavaliers will have a chance to do that this weekend at the Liz Murphey Classic in Athens, Ga.
At Virginia's last event, the LSU/Cleveland Golf Classic in Baton Rouge, La., Virginia finished 12th in the 19 team field. Senior Leah Wigger was the team's highest finisher, placing 12th individually with a total score of 221 in three rounds. Sophomore Jennie Arseneault and senior Rachel Smith finished 54th and 59th with scores of 233 and 234, respectively.
Despite golfers' individual success, the team left Baton Rouge unsatisfied.
"The team did a little better compared to Arizona," Wigger said in reference to the Wildcat Invitational in Arizona, where the Cavaliers finished 14th. "We still have a lot to work on, but given the conditions the first day, we kind of put ourselves in a little bit of a hole. We worked our way out of it the second day, but the third day was a little disappointing because we didn't do as well as we wanted to."
The field in Athens will be just as competitive as it has been in previous events. Yet the golfers have maintained their attitude of optimism and perseverance throughout the challenging season, and Virginia coach Jan Mann still has faith that her team will show how good it can be.
"We've had a little bit of a rough start to our spring season," Mann said. "But I think the main thing is that with each tournament and with each round that we have, we just have to continue to feel like we are getting stronger and stronger. We haven't played as well as we can, which is the good news -- there is a lot more talent there than what we displayed."
Mann said she expects the team will use its talent and confidence to rebound in Athens this weekend.
"The team is very resilient," Mann said. "They're going to approach this tournament not down in the dumps about how they've done in the last two, which have been disappointing for us. I think we have a very strong team going to this event, and our expectations are to do very well."
The Cavaliers have just one tournament left after this weekend before ACC and NCAA playoffs begin. To make the NCAA Championships, the Cavaliers will have to be among the top seven teams from their regional competition, in which 24 teams will be competing. With the postseason already in sight, there are a few kinks the Cavaliers need to hammer out in last stretch of the season.
"We're going to continue to practice hard and work on what we need to specifically work on," Wigger said. "The problem that we are having at tournaments is the short game so if we find that consistency in our short game, it will help us later in the season. We are a good team ... I think we'll finish strong this season and then see what happens."
Read More
Volleyball holds off Boston College in tight five-set win
By Lauren Halak | 7 hours agoSenior outside hitter Elayna Duprey led the team throughout the match with 22 points and 18 kills.
Virginia annihilated 41-14 in a must-win contest versus North Carolina
By Peter Kriebel | YesterdayJust about everything that could have gone wrong for Virginia football went wrong.
No. 24 women’s soccer not to be denied in late win over Clemson
By Sam Chun | YesterdayThe Cavaliers topped Clemson 1-0 in front of a packed out Klöckner Stadium.
