The head coach and her players are set to embark on the spring portion of their schedule, which begins Sunday at the Wildcat Invitational in Tucson, Ariz. And a perfect convergence of events could make it the most memorable semester in the 18 years the CU women’s program has existed.
What’s in store for the Buffs?
First, a 5,700-square-foot indoor practice facility, complete with five heated hitting bays, is tentatively scheduled to open later this month at Colorado National Golf Club, the Buffs’ home course in Erie. The CU women will share the George Boedecker Jr. Golf Practice Facility with the Buff men.
Second, the CU women will be the host team when an NCAA Championship tournament is played in Colorado for the first time ever. The women’s NCAA West Regional is scheduled for May 10-12 at Colorado National.
Third, in a matter of ideal timing for the Buffs, Kelly believes she has the best team in the history of the CU women’s program. After a fall schedule in which the Buffs posted one team victory, they’re ranked 20th in the nation by Golfweek, 23rd by Golfstat and 24th by the coaches.
“It’s a very exciting semester,” said Kelly, CU’s women’s head coach since 1997. “To see this all come true — getting the golf course a couple of years ago, the (practice) facility about to be completed, and hosting this big tournament — it’s great for CU golf, but it’s also great for women’s golf in general.”
If ever there was a semester where the Buffs can make inroads nationally, it’s this one. They have two seniors (Emily Talley, pictured, and Jessica Wallace) who were first-team All-Big 12 Conference players last season. And sophomore Alex Stewart, a transfer from Purdue, is currently the No. 7-ranked women’s amateur in the world, according to Golfweek/amateurgolf.com.
Last month, Stewart was a contender in two prestigious women’s amateur tournaments in Florida, finishing fourth in the South Atlantic Amateur and making it to the match play semifinals of the Jones/Doherty Women’s Amateur. Last year, Stewart was runner-up in the Women’s Trans National.
“Quite honestly, this is probably the best team that’s been here (at CU) so far,” Kelly said. “They’re committed to the team and to their games. They’d like nothing more than to see the team go as far as it can. To have players like that is pretty nice. All of them are excited to play an (NCAA) regional at our home course.”
In addition to Wallace, Talley and Stewart, the Coleman twins — sophomores Jenny and Kristin — make up CU’s normal travel squad.
Twenty-four teams will qualify for the women’s NCAA West Regional, one of three regional tournaments overall. If other Colorado-based teams earn regional berths, they’ll also play at Colorado National in May. Given how highly it’s ranked, CU shouldn’t have a problem earning a regional berth. But the Buffs have bigger things in mind, namely gaining a spot in the NCAA Finals.
The Buffs have qualified for NCAA regionals twice, but have never made it to the Finals.
“Our goal is not to make it to regionals, but to make it to the Championship (finals),” Kelly said. “We definitely have talented players that are capable of that.”
While CU has high expectations given the significant stakes this semester, Kelly has been careful to keep things on an even keel for her team.
“Any extra pressure in golf is not beneficial,” she said. “If we keep doing what we’re doing and play the way we’re capable, I think we’ll be fine.
“I have high hopes and I know what kind of players they are. We have depth and are committed. But golf is such a fickle game. You don’t want to get ahead of yourself. You play your best golf when you stay in the present.”
This will be the second consecutive May that Colorado National has hosted an NCAA regional. Last year, a men’s regional was held there, though the host CU men’s team didn’t qualify. Colorado State not only made it in, but advanced to the NCAA Finals.