Round 1 NCAA Championship Quotes
May 18, 2011 | Women's Golf
May 18, 2011
Head Coach Mary Lou Mulflur:
Q: There is still a lot of golf left to play, so what are your thoughts after day one?
"I think I underestimated that we have no experience in the finals and the impact that would have on us. Mentally, we would have something bad happen out there and we would just let it kind of steamroll instead of bouncing back...like Karinn (Dickinson) did at regionals. She made triple on the first hole and then played 1-under the rest of the way."
Q: What are your overall thoughts on Anya Alvarez's round (+2, 74)?
"She played solid. I watched a lot of her round. She just didn't make any putts. She only had one birdie. But, she played really solid. She hit a lot of fairways and a lot of greens. She just plugged along and was patient. She never got frustrated or tried to get it all back on one hole. She just really enjoyed the experience and did not let it get to her."
Q: What is your message to the girls as you head to the second round?
"We have to be a lot tougher mentally. Yesterday in the practice round, we hit the ball fantastic. So, it's not our ball-striking, it's not our physical tools...we just have to be a lot tougher mentally. If we can get that going, we'll be fine."
Senior, Anya Alvarez:
Q: What do you attribute your success on the course to today?
"I feel like it was a solid score out here today. But, I could have made a couple more putts. I think I hit 15 greens and it's kind of frustrating when you hit that many greens and you're not at least even par. So, I just need to get the putter working a little better, because I'm hitting it well."
Q: As a senior do you see it as your responsibility to step in and talk to your teammates to get them going a little bit more when things go bad?
"I think everybody knows how they feel when that stuff starts to happen. We can always learn from each other. I have experienced that before myself. The last day of regionals was just a snowball effect. Today my mantra was that nothing bad can happen. Essentially, I was thinking that if I don't hit it where I want, it's not the end of the world. It's not going to change my life if I make a bogey. I think when you start looking at it from that perspective it really makes it easier to let go because there is a lot less attachment to the outcome. That is really important, especially this week. We want to place well, so we really have to let go of any attachment we might have."
Q: How have you felt this week leading up to the your first NCAA appearance?
"It's a long week and I'm just trying to stay patient. I don't remember the last time where I've played two practice rounds and then had to play four rounds. I'm really trying to look at it as any other tournament. I know that it is not and it's a great tournament and the best teams are here, but I'm not trying to put too much pressure on the situation. I'm just enjoying it and staying in the present. Right after this I'm moving (to Pittsburgh) and starting a new life, so it's like I really want to enjoy this while I'm here...and all the free food!"
Freshman, Kelli Bowers:
Q: What is your freshman perspective on your first NCAA championship?
"It's fun. This is as far as you can go and so I just had fun today and I really didn't worry about things. I just made sure I had fun and played golf."
Q: Can you attribute your slow start to nerves?
"It wasn't so much that I was nervous, I was a little more anxious than anything. I was trying to force things early and once I just let go, it kind of came back."
Q: What kind of goals did you set for yourself this week?
"Pretty much for the tournament I have the same goal. Not to have expectations, just play golf, have fun and be positive. My philosophy was to just come out and play how I normally play, be mentally strong and work with what I have that day."
Q: How does having your parents on the trip influence your game?
"It means a lot that my parents are able to come down and watch and support me. It definitely helps a lot."
Junior, Sadena Parks
Q: What are your initial thoughts on how the day went for you?
"It was very frustrating today. I was on a roll and then had three bad holes. I got right back on track, but then I had two bad holes again. It was just frustrating that I could not stay consistent. I guess I was forcing it out there and forcing some scores that I shouldn't have."
Q: What do you have to do tomorrow to correct your mistakes from today?
"I will just learn from today. I can't force shots and I just need to play the course. This course is not as hard as some make it out to be. If you just hit in the middle of the fairway and then the middle of the green...the best shots you have for these greens. I'm really shooing for even-par tomorrow for the whole day and I feel like putts will just drop for me."
