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What’s next?
Or a better question for the Pepperdine women’s golf team might be “what’s left?”
Ask any member of the team and the answer is simple … a national championship.
“Our main goal is to win nationals,” sophomore Rachel Kyono said. “We can do it. If we all play the game we are capable of playing, we can win.”
The Waves, currently the top-ranked team in the nation, have enjoyed an amazing spring season. They’ve won all four tournaments on their schedule, most recently the UCLA Bruin Invitational March 24-25.
“It’s been pretty awesome,” senior All-American Lindsey Wright said. “We’ve played great golf and set some records that are going to be hard to beat. This season couldn’t be better. Well, actually it could. The national championships would be the icing on the cake.”
The Waves have proven they have what it takes to win and win again.
“We’ve been successful because everyone is contributing, everyone is working hard,” Head Coach Laurie Gibbs said. “This team has high expectations for themselves.”
Seniors Wright and No. 1-ranked All-American Katherine Hull have been an integral part of the Waves’ success. Both played on last year’s team that tied for 14th at nationals and have been leaders on and off the green this season.
“I think both Lindsey and Katherine have an incredible respect for the game,” Gibbs said. “They set a tone for their teammates that they want to win, but they’ll do that by working hard and going into tournaments prepared. These are two of the best golfers in the world right now.”
However, it has not just been a two-person show. As a team, the Waves have matured and improved since the beginning of this year, Gibbs said.
“We’re confident now,” freshman Carolina Llano said. “We’ve reached a high level of golf. It’s not just up to Lindsey and Katherine to do well. All the responsibility and expectations aren’t just on them. The whole team can and will play well.”
The team dynamics have made perhaps the biggest difference in the Waves’ unstoppable winning record.
“This season has been great,” Llano said. “I didn’t just find good players when I came to Pepperdine, I found good friends. They’ve helped me adapt and we have the potential to finish the season on top.”
Wright agrees.
“As a senior, I’m more settled,” Wright said. “I know what to expect and I have the experience. What has been different about this year is that I enjoy my team so much more. That happiness of being here has translated into improved golf for me. There is no stress out there.”
No stress on the No. 1 team in the country?
“You have to take it one day at a time,” Wright said. “You can’t go walking around saying ‘we’re No. 1, we’re No. 1.’ I don’t like to get ahead of myself, but deep down, I want to kick butt at nationals, and I know we have the ability to win.”
There are only a few more hurdles in the way.
The Waves compete in the West Coast Conference Championships in Fresno April 14-15 and the NCAA West Coast Regionals May 8-10.
But where will they be May 20-23, according to team and coach alike?
Tempe, Ariz. The NCAA championships.
Submitted April 03, 2003
MALIBU, CA
