The Youngstown State University’s women’s golf team will head to Florida this weekend for the Horizon League Championship.
The championship, which lasts from Friday to Sunday, will be the last tournament for the women until the next season begins in September.
Roseann Schwartz, head women’s golf coach, said she’s confident that her players will do well in Florida, especially after the success they had during the Niagara Invitational earlier this month.
“We just won against Detroit,” Schwartz said. “We had three girls place into the top 10.” Schwartz said the team, mainly made up of underclassmen, has stood out to her through their attitudes.
“They have the same attitudes and enthusiasm as the girls who have won the championship in the past,” Schwartz said.
Sarah Heimlich, second year captain and senior, said the biggest thing is “learning how to come back.”
“Even in the past tournament, I had a really bad hole, but I was able to come back from it and made a couple birdies,” she said.
However, Heimlich knows that with success, the realism of golf sets in as well.
“You can’t pressure yourself; you have to play for yourself,” she said. “You always feel like you let your team down when you have a bad round.”
Like Schwartz, Heimlich said she believes that the mindset of not only herself but of her teammates will help them pull through at the championship.
“Mistakes are going to happen. It’s definitely not a perfect game out there,” Heimlich said. “When we are all on our game, we are unstoppable.”
Sophomore Allison Mitzel, like Heimlich, was named to the Horizon League All-Tournament Team in 2012.
“Everything happens for a reason, and I was pretty blessed to play that well my freshman year,” Mitzel said.
Mitzel said she’s cherished her time as a golfer for YSU and will look to build upon it each year.
“To be able to come in with other freshmen last year and play a Division I sport, it’s just been a great opportunity,” Mitzel said.
Mitzel said the “taste of almost winning” is something that golfers have to build off of every year.
“It all comes with higher expectations,” Mitzel said. “If you don’t meet those expectations, it hurts your ego and mindset. Golf is 90 percent mental.”
Mitzel noted that the mental aspect of golf alongside the physical part is something that the team hasn’t had many problems with.
“We have the swings. I mean, everyone has a great swing,” Mitzel said. “It’s just, does everything come together when it needs to come together?”
Schwartz described her team as more experienced and stronger than the previous year.
“We played in about 70 tournaments, and we’ve always been in the top third,” Schwartz said. “They’re pretty consistent, and if they can keep up their composure, that’s huge.”
As for the course at the championship, Schwartz doesn’t have any concerns.
“They hit the ball and know where it’s going,” Schwartz said. “They have a sense of direction in their mind.”
Heimlich’s past experiences in previous championships have helped steady her mindset for her final college tournament.
“I feel like just because I’ve been able to do this in the past, I feel confident going into these bigger tournaments,” Heimlich said.
Heading into the championship, Mitzel said she believes that the mentality of a golfer will play a huge role.
“You have to be able to will through it and play your game every day as it comes,” Mitzel said.
