Imagine yourself alone, standing over a putt 15 feet from the hole. Sinking it could mean victory — inches away, defeat. You’re a member of a golf team and your performance, every shot you take, not only counts for you, but for your teammates as well.
But your teammates can’t help. There’s no “pinch-putt” or assist in golf. In fact, you may not even see your teammates the entire time you’re competing on the golf course.
So when women’s golf head coach Karen Bahnsen and two of her best golfers say that team chemistry and a mutual respect among the players has been one of the “keys to their success” this season, it might make you scratch your head. But in a game like golf that is as much about peace of mind as it is physical talent, having a solid support group helps you succeed whether you can see them or not.
“We’re very close off the course so when we get on the course we’re always fighting for each other,” said sophomore women’s golfer Megan McChrystal.
“It definitely helps you focus and gives you a stronger motivation to know that you’re out there playing for more than just yourself. You’re playing for your teammates and coaches. You’re playing for LSU.”
McChrystal, a first-team All-SEC selection, and Caroline Martens, the lone senior on the 2009 LSU women’s golf team, are two of the reasons the Tigers are finishing one of the most successful seasons in the history of the program.
The Tigers won the Mercedes-Benz Collegiate and Bryan Park National Collegiate tournaments this season, the first time the team has won multiple tournaments in a season since 2004-05. McChrystal won two tournaments on her own this season and is posting the lowest single-season stroke average in the history of LSU women’s golf (72.24 strokes per round).
“[Megan] has really stepped up in a big way and has shown great leadership on the golf course,” said Bahnsen. “She has worked really hard and just continues to improve.”
Martens is no slouch on the golf course, either. The Norwegian has played over 100 rounds of golf in her Lady Tigers career and, according to Bahnsen, is “one of the best crunch-time performers” on the team. But more than anything else it’s Martens’ leadership off the course that has helped the team to the No. 7 national ranking.
“She always looks for something positive in every situation and she always tries to keep us close when we go our own way,” said McChrystal. “She’s been really good this year about keeping us together.”
Bahnsen’s view of Martens’ impact shows the perspective that only a 25-year coaching veteran can offer. She calls her “the most unselfish player I’ve ever coached” and says Martens never fails to put the team first.
Both McChrystal and Martens’ ability to lead was put to the test on the second day of the NCAA West Regional in Tempe, Ariz., almost two weeks ago. Freshman Tessa Teachman was forced to withdraw from competition after she succumbed to dehydration midway through her round in temperatures soaring over 100 degrees. The safety net was gone for the Tigers and for the rest of the round every stroke of the remaining four players, no matter how good or bad, would count toward the team’s overall score.
McChrystal responded in typical fashion, firing the first of two consecutive 3-under 69s to lead the way for the Tigers. Martens tied her score from the day before with a 3-over 75, making several key pars in the later holes while staying positive and never allowing her teammates to lose focus.
“I was on a nice little par-three [that day] and I missed the green and as I was putting I thought ?Well, this one’s for Tessa’,” McChrystal said. “I’m sure Caroline and the other girls were thinking the same thing … Tessa was in tears when she had to leave [the course] and that just goes to show you how much it meant to her just to be able to stay on the golf course for the team.”
As the Tigers prepare to compete in the NCAA Championships at Caves Valley Golf Course in Owings Mills, Md. beginning on Tuesday, their performance on the course and camaraderie off it are the two reasons why they have a chance to tie or even surpass the LSU-best finish of fifth in the country.
“What they showed that second day [at the NCAA West Regional] playing with just four was tremendous,” said Bahnsen. “Going into hat last round, knowing they had to have it and not sure if Tessa was going to be able to play and they went out and just fought.”
“That’s going to help them in this next tournament.”
The Championship won’t be the end for this team, however. With Martens as the lone senior, the Tigers are full of capable underclassmen like McChrystal and other sophomores and freshmen like Amalie Valle, Jacqueline Headwall and Teachman. When it comes to the 2009 women’s golf team, the consensus around the clubhouse is that the best is yet to come.
“We’re just continuing to get better and better, “ Bahnsen said.
“The future is really exciting for this program.”
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NCAA NOTES: The teams had their first look at Caves Valley Sunday in the first of two practice rounds for the 72-hole event that begins on Tuesday.
“It’s beautiful,” said Bahnsen. “But it’s tight. You must keep the ball in the fairway because the rough is deep.”
LSU tees off in the afternoon wave on Tuesday in the first round as the top 12 teams from regional play (the top four from each of the three regionals) will play in the afternoon on Tuesday and the morning on Wednesday. LSU will be paired with Tennessee and Wake Forest.