The New Mexico State Aggies will welcome the Idaho’s women’s golf team once again to the Price’s Give ‘Em Five Intercollegiate Monday through Wednesday at the New Mexico State Golf Course in Las Cruces, New Mexico.
The Vandals have a history of successful rounds at the New Mexico State invite, and they expect nothing less going into this year’s tournament. Idaho will look for its third win at the New Mexico State invite under Idaho coach Lisa Johnson.
Coming off of a second-place finish at the Washington State Cougar Cup, Idaho is walking into the tournament with a positive attitude.
Johnson said the team’s past success at the New Mexico State invite has had a major impact on the confidence level within the team.
“It’s the nature of the sport, and when they go onto the course knowing that they’ve shot low numbers before, they believe they will do well,” Johnson said.
The Vandals are more than ready to take on the invitational.
“All five of them can excel,” Johnson said. “The returning players all know what they are getting into. Kristin (Strankman) shot under par (at the NMSU invite), Amy (Hasenoehrl) had her lowest individual score of the season, and Cassie (McKinley) knows what to expect.”
Johnson said she is very confident in freshmen Michelle Kim and Sophie Hausmann.
“The golf course was set up for our freshmen,” Johnson said.
Kim finished fourth at the WSU Cougar Cup, earning the Big Sky Conference Golfer of the week award for her efforts. Hausmann had an impressive round at the Ptarmigan Ram Classic in September.
After assessing the competition, Johnson said there are going to be plenty of competitors, including Brigham Young, Iowa and New Mexico State.
The BYU Cougars finished first at the Ptarmigan Ram Classic, the Iowa Hawkeyes finished in the top three in their first two invitationals of the season and New Mexico State is always a major competitor as it plays on its home course.
“We just need to stay focused on the present, manage our emotions and the course to the best of our ability and make as many birdies as possible,” Johnson said.
Mihaela Karst can be reached at [email protected]