Eagles Close Out Fall Season at Music City Invitational
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – The Carson-Newman women’s golf team looks to end the fall season on a high note, traveling to Murfreesboro, Tennessee, for the Music City Invitational on Monday and Tuesday.
VIDEO: Jessica Shepley Interview
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – The Carson-Newman women's golf team looks to end the fall season on a high note, traveling to Murfreesboro, Tennessee, for the Music City Invitational on Monday and Tuesday.
With the fall season coming to a close, first-year head coach Jessica Shepley has seen steady improvement within her team on the course.
"I've definitely seen improvement in the short game," Shepley said. "Confidence on greens, being able to hit different shots… The work that we've been doing in that area is really starting to show."
Going into the Music City Invitational, Shepley wants to see her team play confidently and build momentum for the spring season.
"I think just playing with a lot of confidence," Shepley said. "I think the girls have been working hard, but I don't think we've quite put it into play. That's just a bit of a growth mindset, knowing that you have the skills and then trusting it and turning on that play mode."
The course at Old Fort Golf Club is unfamiliar to Shepley, but a few Eagles have played it before, and Shepley believes that serves as a big benefit.
"Golf is such an individual sport, but they're also playing it from a team aspect," Shepley said. "Some of the Tennessee girls have played it in junior golf, so they kind of know what to expect, and hopefully they're using some of their free time to practice shots they know they're going to face."
Heading into the fall season's final tournament, sophomore Ida Petersen has seen steady improvement in her game and looks to build on it at the Music City Invitational.
"I had a pretty rough start to the season," Petersen said. "But I think I've been improving through every event of the season… I've been working on my mental game and I think I've been improving that in every tournament we've had."
A big point of emphasis for Shepley has been to eliminate the big numbers, and Petersen has been able to do that by focusing on one shot at a time.
"I've been trying to stay relaxed out there," Petersen said. "Not being too tense about every shot that I have… Just taking one shot at a time."
At a course with little familiarity, Petersen believes preparation is key in getting ready for the new challenge.
"I just make sure we have a good practice round," Petersen said. "I pay attention to all the things that the course includes… Where I want to put my shots at… Just kind of prepare myself that way."
In preparation for the final challenge of the fall, Petersen and the Eagles have focused on the details.
"We've been doing some drills with every aspect of the game," Petersen said. "A lot of short game, which is a really important part of the golf game… Everybody has been doing their drills, working on the things they need to work on."
With heavy preparation, the Eagles will look to conquer the new challenge at the Old Fort Golf Club in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, on Monday at 9 AM.
