JENNA SHAY
Staff writer
The Pepperdine women’s golf team is everything but satisfied with their current No. 3 Golfweek ranking as they prepare to reach new heights this season.
“We have players that want to win,” Head Coach Laurie Gibbs said. “The girls respond to this ranking with, ‘Hey, why aren’t we number one?’”
This year, the Waves return four players who were a part of the team that finished fourth at the 2005 NCAA Championships. The two captains, senior All-American Carolina Llano and junior All-American Eileen Vargas look to lead the team with their experience and enthusiasm.
“We are excited about our ranking,” said Llano, who enters as the sixth-ranked individual in the nation. “We know that we can finish higher at the end of the year.”
Still, the Waves have not lost sight of what it’s going to take to achieve their goals. They can be found practicing on the courses of Calabasas and Malibu three to four hours a day, Monday through Friday. Commitment and focus is stressed everyday to ensure success.
“Our goal is really to work hard,” Gibbs said, “We have the attitude that we can win with being smart and patient.”
Gibbs said she looks especially to Llano and Vargas as leaders to set the tone for their teammates.
“Carolina and Eileen come from the same country,” Gibbs said. “They together want to represent both Colombia and Pepperdine. We really look to them to be examples and set the positive attitude.”
Vargas noted that the team’s high ranking was only motivation to work harder in practice each day.
“We see it as a positive thing,” Vargas said. “Right now we’re getting to know each other and getting the team focused on winning an NCAA Championship.”
The Waves will travel to their first challenge in Albuquerque, N.M., at the Dick McGuire Invitational on Sept. 26, where they will face Pac-10 and WCC opponents. Gibbs has no doubt that the team is prepared.
“We’ve been playing a lot in real situations for this challenging course,” Gibbs said. “The course is set up well and will require consistent shots.”
In their quest for a national title, the Waves think they are ready and able to work their way to the top.
“Confidence is the key,” Gibbs said. “One shot at a time.”
09-22-2005
