North Carolina State University Athletics
Doughtie: The Ultimate Bittersweet Ending
5/16/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
Wow! The last ten days have such been a whirlwind of excitement for me that I am not even sure how to start.
Texas (NCAA Central Regional) felt right from the beginning when it was announced during the conference call in late April. To say we were excited is definitely an understatement. For the first time we were sent to a region other than East, which not only meant a different look, but it also meant a chance to get away from the state of Georgia. We had flown through Atlanta twice earlier in the season. Both times we were stuck and had to spend the night there. So a chance to avoid Atlanta was much appreciated!
On Wednesday, we got our first glimpse of the course during the practice round. After playing and practicing, Coach took us to Oasis, a restaurant near the course with a gorgeous view. Sitting on the deck to enjoy the view seemed like a great idea, but we must have forgotten about the Texas winds. The umbrellas that were supposed to protect us from the sun became dangerous when caught by the wind. Coach and Julie Saleeby became well acquainted with the flying object also known as the umbrella when it came crashing down on top of them. Luckily no one was hurt. The incident just caused us to be a little jumpy the rest of dinner.
There are drawbacks and advantages to having alternating tee times - afternoon the first day and morning the second as we did at Regionals. The drawback is simply the lack of turn around time. There was about thirteen hours from when our last scorecard was signed on Thursday and when we planned on arriving Friday morning. The advantage was we were able to go out Friday and post a number before the wind picked up and the temperature climbed well into the upper nineties. Then it was time to sit back a wait to see how the chips fell.
After we finished Friday’s second round, Coach took us to see a movie and we were the epitome of annoying movie goers. We had at least three phones out watching golfstat (live stats of the event) and constantly hitting refresh to see where we stood, and whispering to one another to keep everyone up to date. Coach joked that she needed to go see the movie again because she must have missed at least half of it while watching golfstat. We were watching so religiously hoping to make the top twelve so we would play the following morning rather than afternoon. Our wish came true and for the first time we played in the morning wave of the final round at Regionals!!
To be honest I found myself in somewhat of a dj vu feeling at the start of the final round. Much like the start of my final round earlier in the year at LSU (where I was 5 over through the first five) I bogeyed my first three holes. I saw Ashlee (Assistant Coach) on my 4th hole and while mapping out how to play my approach we watched both of my playing opponents land their approaches on the green only to have them bounce over seemingly into the hazard. Ashlee and I quickly decided to aim about ten yards to the right of the pin and on the very front edge to let the ball funnel towards the hole but not flirt with going over. This play led to a birdie, and Ashlee had gotten me back on track.
I made a handful of really good pars to finish out my front nine, but an errant tee shot on No. 1(my tenth) led to yet another bogey. Lucky for me, the following hole really liked me this week because I stepped up and for the third straight day birdied the par 3 number 2. This lit the fire I knew I still had in me. I chipped in for birdie on 4 then had a two-putt birdie from about 75 feet on 5, and I was ready to go. I knew I had gotten myself back into position and felt confident my team was doing the same. When I saw Ashlee on six I was so worked up (in a good way) that I couldn’t stand still and it felt like Steph’s (teammate) group was playing at the pace of a snail. Ashlee calmed me down, again (like she always does), and helped me give myself another good look at birdie.
I had told Ashlee at the start of the day I would like for her to be with me on my last hole or two, to make sure I didn’t do anything crazy. She had to witness my bogey on 8 for the third straight day so this hole canceled out my play on hole 2 for the week. Once on the final tee box, reality began to set in that we could be going to nationals. Ashlee and I decided to go with the uncharacteristic conservative play, but we both quickly decided that in the future that’s way too nerve wracking to do.
After signing my scorecard, I found out we had missed it by one, but I had made it as an individual. This is the ultimate bittersweet ending because I have to be excited about going to nationals, but disappointing at the same time because I won’t have my team making the trip with me.
We didn’t arrive back in Raleigh until a little after 4 pm Sunday afternoon, which meant three of my teammates, who were also playing in the US Open Local Qualifier at Pinewild Golf Course, and I would not be able to play a practice round. I told my dad Monday morning before I started warming up, “I’m not going for medalist this round of qualifying. I am just going for pars since I haven’t seen the course. I just want to get through this round and I will go low at the next stage.”
Well, go for pars I did, and it turns out that was definitely the right approach for that day. (Lauren wound up the only player to break par with a one-under 71, three shots better than the field to earn medalist honors).
Of course the first thing my dad said was, “I thought you weren’t going for medalist.” I don’t mind not upholding that statement.
My swing coach, Kandi, told me that I should just go for pars every time. Also, Kandi told me to take Tuesday completely off to give my body a chance to rest before starting preparation for Nationals. I didn’t realize how much good a day off could do for me. On Wednesday I began preparing the right way by driving to Charlottesville, Va., to spend sometime with Kandi to make sure my swing and putting stroke were still in good form.
Thursday and Friday I am going to try to approach like all the other days I spent preparing throughout the season so that I don’t get out of my normal routine. I will mainly focus practice on my short game but will still spend some time on my swing. The most important thing for me to work on is mentally preparing myself for the week ahead. I need to try to approach next week like any other tournament and not put anymore emphasis on this trip because it is Nationals, or I will not perform my best.
Next week will be a great experience for all of us going. Coach and I fly out Saturday, and Ashlee is flying out to meet us on Tuesday so she will be in town for the final three rounds. My parents will be in attendance from the start of the first round just like always. They are dedicated supporters from start to finish.
I am extremely excited to participate in the National Championship, and I look forward to sharing the experience all next week. I wish my team could be there with me, but they will be in my heart. They also will be in my mind with a little: whoop, whoop (that’s for them)!
Texas (NCAA Central Regional) felt right from the beginning when it was announced during the conference call in late April. To say we were excited is definitely an understatement. For the first time we were sent to a region other than East, which not only meant a different look, but it also meant a chance to get away from the state of Georgia. We had flown through Atlanta twice earlier in the season. Both times we were stuck and had to spend the night there. So a chance to avoid Atlanta was much appreciated!
On Wednesday, we got our first glimpse of the course during the practice round. After playing and practicing, Coach took us to Oasis, a restaurant near the course with a gorgeous view. Sitting on the deck to enjoy the view seemed like a great idea, but we must have forgotten about the Texas winds. The umbrellas that were supposed to protect us from the sun became dangerous when caught by the wind. Coach and Julie Saleeby became well acquainted with the flying object also known as the umbrella when it came crashing down on top of them. Luckily no one was hurt. The incident just caused us to be a little jumpy the rest of dinner.
There are drawbacks and advantages to having alternating tee times - afternoon the first day and morning the second as we did at Regionals. The drawback is simply the lack of turn around time. There was about thirteen hours from when our last scorecard was signed on Thursday and when we planned on arriving Friday morning. The advantage was we were able to go out Friday and post a number before the wind picked up and the temperature climbed well into the upper nineties. Then it was time to sit back a wait to see how the chips fell.
After we finished Friday’s second round, Coach took us to see a movie and we were the epitome of annoying movie goers. We had at least three phones out watching golfstat (live stats of the event) and constantly hitting refresh to see where we stood, and whispering to one another to keep everyone up to date. Coach joked that she needed to go see the movie again because she must have missed at least half of it while watching golfstat. We were watching so religiously hoping to make the top twelve so we would play the following morning rather than afternoon. Our wish came true and for the first time we played in the morning wave of the final round at Regionals!!
To be honest I found myself in somewhat of a dj vu feeling at the start of the final round. Much like the start of my final round earlier in the year at LSU (where I was 5 over through the first five) I bogeyed my first three holes. I saw Ashlee (Assistant Coach) on my 4th hole and while mapping out how to play my approach we watched both of my playing opponents land their approaches on the green only to have them bounce over seemingly into the hazard. Ashlee and I quickly decided to aim about ten yards to the right of the pin and on the very front edge to let the ball funnel towards the hole but not flirt with going over. This play led to a birdie, and Ashlee had gotten me back on track.
I made a handful of really good pars to finish out my front nine, but an errant tee shot on No. 1(my tenth) led to yet another bogey. Lucky for me, the following hole really liked me this week because I stepped up and for the third straight day birdied the par 3 number 2. This lit the fire I knew I still had in me. I chipped in for birdie on 4 then had a two-putt birdie from about 75 feet on 5, and I was ready to go. I knew I had gotten myself back into position and felt confident my team was doing the same. When I saw Ashlee on six I was so worked up (in a good way) that I couldn’t stand still and it felt like Steph’s (teammate) group was playing at the pace of a snail. Ashlee calmed me down, again (like she always does), and helped me give myself another good look at birdie.
I had told Ashlee at the start of the day I would like for her to be with me on my last hole or two, to make sure I didn’t do anything crazy. She had to witness my bogey on 8 for the third straight day so this hole canceled out my play on hole 2 for the week. Once on the final tee box, reality began to set in that we could be going to nationals. Ashlee and I decided to go with the uncharacteristic conservative play, but we both quickly decided that in the future that’s way too nerve wracking to do.
After signing my scorecard, I found out we had missed it by one, but I had made it as an individual. This is the ultimate bittersweet ending because I have to be excited about going to nationals, but disappointing at the same time because I won’t have my team making the trip with me.
We didn’t arrive back in Raleigh until a little after 4 pm Sunday afternoon, which meant three of my teammates, who were also playing in the US Open Local Qualifier at Pinewild Golf Course, and I would not be able to play a practice round. I told my dad Monday morning before I started warming up, “I’m not going for medalist this round of qualifying. I am just going for pars since I haven’t seen the course. I just want to get through this round and I will go low at the next stage.”
Well, go for pars I did, and it turns out that was definitely the right approach for that day. (Lauren wound up the only player to break par with a one-under 71, three shots better than the field to earn medalist honors).
Of course the first thing my dad said was, “I thought you weren’t going for medalist.” I don’t mind not upholding that statement.
My swing coach, Kandi, told me that I should just go for pars every time. Also, Kandi told me to take Tuesday completely off to give my body a chance to rest before starting preparation for Nationals. I didn’t realize how much good a day off could do for me. On Wednesday I began preparing the right way by driving to Charlottesville, Va., to spend sometime with Kandi to make sure my swing and putting stroke were still in good form.
Thursday and Friday I am going to try to approach like all the other days I spent preparing throughout the season so that I don’t get out of my normal routine. I will mainly focus practice on my short game but will still spend some time on my swing. The most important thing for me to work on is mentally preparing myself for the week ahead. I need to try to approach next week like any other tournament and not put anymore emphasis on this trip because it is Nationals, or I will not perform my best.
Next week will be a great experience for all of us going. Coach and I fly out Saturday, and Ashlee is flying out to meet us on Tuesday so she will be in town for the final three rounds. My parents will be in attendance from the start of the first round just like always. They are dedicated supporters from start to finish.
I am extremely excited to participate in the National Championship, and I look forward to sharing the experience all next week. I wish my team could be there with me, but they will be in my heart. They also will be in my mind with a little: whoop, whoop (that’s for them)!
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