Golf teams have high expectations for season

The Ottawa Braves golf team has high expectations for the 2010-2011 season.

Head Coach Wendell Smith said the season has already begun with two tournaments in which a couple of the players have placed third and fifth in their conference.

Smith said during the fall, the golf team only participates in tournaments and during the spring begins their regular season. At the end of the season in the spring, the players who are top ten in the conference are considered All-Conference, which is a big honor, he said.

"They've got a good head start and hopefully we can finish the year strong," he said.

Smith said the team has a good senior class this year. He has an optimistic outlook for the season. They are to the point where they have a solid foundation and are currently working on improving their skills, he said.

"It's going to be a very competitive season," he said

There are 15 men, but only five women who play golf at OU.

Senior Laura Reed said the women's team is happy to have two new ladies on the team this year.

"I feel that this fall is going to be a great chance for our team to bond especially with the two new great additions to the women's team," she said.

Reed said the women's team needs a few more members to compete for conference titles. Since there are not many golf schools for women, the team travels often.

Smith said Academics are very important to the team. They chose to compete over fall break so they wouldn't have to miss class.

"They have their priorities in the right place," he said.

Smith said that the men's team has improved as a team this year, but they are aiming to be in the top three rather than the top five. He says they can easily compete this year.

"I have higher expectations for the seniors and we need them to step up and lead and do their best," he said.

Tyler Beiker, a junior on the men's golf team, said he hopes to perform better within the team this year.

"I want to medal in as many tournaments as I can," he said. "I want to average below eighty."

Reed being a senior, this is her last year to compete, she said. She hopes to become more consistent on her shots this season and make some memories this year with her teammates.

"For me, personally this upcoming fall is my last semester to get the chance to play and one of my main goals is to make some great memories with my teammates and coaches," she said.

She is also looking forward to the golf trips with the team and playing on different golf courses.

"Every year my favorite part of the season is road trips with the team. They are just a great way for our team to really get to know each other on a more relaxed and personal level outside of practice and tournaments," she said. "I am also excited to be playing at a new course this fall that we haven't played at in the past seasons. Having the opportunity to play at variety of new and challenging courses makes the tournaments that more enjoyable.

Smith said golf is a game of integrity and character. Unlike most sports, it's a game you can participate in your whole life.

"There are lots of things about golf that are good for life because you are your own referee," he said. "Golf is truly a lifetime sport."

Smith said the women's golf team is currently having open tryouts.

Fulmer said the streaming is fun for students and good for OU as a whole.

"Baker has nothing like that," she said. "That's a really high selling point."