Luo Prepared For Solo Experience At Golf Championship
May 20, 2013
Ying<!> Luo is the fourth individual competitor at the NCAA Championship in UW's history.
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NCAA Championship Tues.-Fri., May 21-24 | Live Stats |
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• Ying 
ATHENS, Ga. -- The NCAA Women's Golf Championship gets under way Tuesday, May 22 and runs through Friday, May 24 at the University of Georgia Golf Course. That is where Washington walk-on>Ying Luo will continue her remarkable freshman season.
The 19-year-old from Shezhan, China is the lone Husky representative that will be competing this week after the Huskies finished 10th and was shut out as a team from advancing to the NCAA Championship. Luo was one of two individuals from the Central Regional in Norman, Okla. that earned a spot after finishing tied for 8th at Jimmie Austin UO Golf Course.
In earning her spot, Luo put on a display of clutch golf that belies her youth. Luo, who is also a 4.0 student in the classroom, birdied the final three holes of competition -- four of the last five -- to shoot a career-best 4-under 68. She drained a 22-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole to end up with a three-day total of 1-under 215, establish a new career low and book her ticket to the Championship.
Luo is the fourth Husky to advance as an individual competitor during Mary Lou Mulflur's 30 years as head coach at Washington. Lindsay Morgan (2003), Dodie Mazzuca (1996) and Nancy Kessler (1988) all paved the way previously for Luo.
The NCAA Championship consists of 72 holes over four days. The course is a par 72, 6,372-yard track that is home to the University of Georgia men's and women's teams.
Luo will tee off on Tuesday from the No. 10 tee box.
Below is a Q&A with Luo from late last week before she and Mulflur traveled to Georgia:
How does it feel to be heading to the NCAA Championship?
Luo: I'm really excited to be going to the national championship because it is the biggest event of the year. But, it is kind of bittersweet for me because only I am going and my teammates are not. I really didn't expect this outcome and I never thought that I would go to the NCAA's by myself. I think our team should have gone because we are really good. It is kind of a shock and beyond my expectations.
How nervous were you staring down the last 20-foot putt that you needed to make in order to secure the berth in the NCAA's?
Luo: I was quite nervous but I was more confident after re-aligning myself. The first time I saw the line, I just practiced my putt behind the ball and I felt like my line was not good enough. Sometimes when you are thinking you want to change it, you end up doing it and you miss the putt, but I just felt really uncomfortable during the practice putt. I made myself more comfortable and changed the line. This time I felt much more comfortable. I told myself just putt it and trust it and whether I make it or not, it's fine, just as long as I feel good about it. If I felt good about it and didn't make it, I would not blame myself. It was quite long. When I putted I just really trusted in myself and it went in. I didn't scream - (Assistant Coach) Andrea (VanderLende) did. I was just really proud of myself. I was relieved and it was kind of unbelievable.
Is it true that you made your teammates go watch SooBin Kim who was on the hole in front of you so you wouldn't be nervous?
Luo: Yes. I asked Andrea to tell them not to watch me. I was on the (18th) fairway when the weather delay came. I didn't think too much about it during the delay. We were in the clubhouse just playing games. You can't think about it for two hours. It would be so stressful. They didn't let me watch the scoreboards in the beginning but I couldn't help it with the screen right in the clubhouse.
Did you know what you had to do in order to secure either a team or an individual berth while you were in the clubhouse waiting?
Luo: I knew that I at least needed to birdie. I also knew we were three strokes behind so SooBin needed to make her last two birdies and I needed to make mine. It was much harder for SooBin because there were two holes left and everybody has really high expectations for her because she is the best player on our team, so she has a lot of pressure. To make one birdie is easier, but to make two is asking a lot.
How have you enjoyed your American experience so far ?
Luo: Before I came I knew it was going to be hard. I thought that I was prepared for this but now that I am here, I realize that it is harder than I thought. But, I really feel like that I am maturing and I didn't expect the college golf to be as much fun as it is. We have traveled to so many great places; get to eat really good food. I have gone to Disneyland and Hawai'i. I didn't expect that and it has exceeded my expectations. I've made really good friends with my teammates that support me. I feel like that this will be one of the best experiences of my life.
What are your expectations for the NCAA Championship?
Luo: I try to not push myself too much because there have been some tournaments in the past that I really thought I could win and I gave myself high expectations where I told myself I have to win and I give myself too high of expectations. It is really easy for me to get really frustrated when I fall below my expectations. When I don't give myself too many expectations or if I just tell myself to have fun, just play each stroke and focus on each stroke, usually that is when I play well. Even if I don't play well I won't be too disappointed. I'm not that type of person. I need to be more humble to succeed. I trust myself and I know that I'm good, but there are a lot of good players that will be there.
Is it going to be strange to be in Athens without all your teammates and friends?
Luo: It's definitely weird. It will be the first time that I go to a tournament without them. I really have a lot of fun with them at the tournaments. We always joke around. There was a lot of fun stuff that happens at the tournaments. It was really great to have them around me. This time, I feel like I will be really bored!
What advice and message have you received from your teammates as you head off alone?
Luo: Most of them are telling me to have fun and enjoy the experience. Some of them are telling me to win it! You can do it! I really appreciate that they are giving me so much support.
Which teammate will text you the most while you are gone?
Luo: Probably Jennifer Yang. I have been her Chinese tutor. She is taking Chinese and sometimes she texts me in Chinese.
