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YSU golf team set for NCAA regional in South Bend, Ind.
By Curtis Pulliam
Youngstown
Allison Mitzel and her teammates will try to approach today’s NCAA women’s regional at Warren Golf Course in South Bend, Ind., the same as any other golf tournament.
The Penguins will tee off on the back nine with Eastern Kentucky and Troy at 9:39 a.m.
“We have to remain positive,” Mitzel said. “It’s hard to enjoy golf when you’re not having fun.”
But that’s easier said than done.
The Penguins won the Horizon League Championship and earned the conference’s automatic bid to the regional. The bid is the first one in school history.
“It was pretty darn exciting,” said head coach Nate Miklos. “It was a great feeling.”
YSU won the Horizon League in 2003 and 2009, but the conference didn’t have an automatic berth until 2010.
Junior Emily Dixon shot 224 to capture the Horizon League individual championship by one stroke.
“Everyone knew that it was going to be close,” Miklos said.
Mitzel finished in a tie for third and senior Aislynn Merling was fourth.
“I am really excited and it is a great way to end my senior (regular) season,” Mitzel said. “We just need to have fun and enjoy the experience.”
The 18-team field consists of big-name schools such as Arizona, Duke and Oklahoma State.
But the Penguins can’t worry about the other teams.
“We can only focus on ourselves,” Miklos said. “We have to take care of the things that we can control.”
In just his second year, Miklos was not surprised by his team’s performance this season especially behind the leadership of his two seniors.
“Their leadership has been critical,” Miklos said. “When I came in they bought in and set the example for the rest of the team with how they work and their approach to the game. We have been on a solid run and have been consistent all spring.”
Mitzel, a Poland High graduate. said she felt that this season was going to be great.
“Our motto is ‘We Believe’ this year and we knew we had something special,” she said.
Miklos knew that previous coach Roseann Schwartz had left him with a great group of players.
“We just had to further develop as a team and add some missing pieces,” Miklos said.
Mitzel said she isn’t nervous for the tournament.
At least for now.
“We are a seasoned team and we have played on a big stage before,” she said.
On the course, Mitzel says a big factor is avoiding mistakes.
“We have to make pars and birdies and avoid big numbers,” Mitzel said. We just can’t press ourselves.”
Mitzel says the Penguins would love to win the regional, but the players know it will be a tough field.
“It will be a great learning experience,” Mitzel said. “The main goal is to have fun and play our best. We are going to try and be in the best position for us to win.”
Milkos believes the recipe for success is simple.
“We are going to need a complete team effort,” Miklos said. “We are going to have to have solid rounds from at least three or four players. That is going to be really important.”