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COLLEGE CORNER
By Libby Hooton
I’m sure you can imagine how exciting it was to interview the NCAA Championship Women’s Golf Team from the University of Southern California. All you have to do is walk through the doors of Heritage Hall on the University Park Campus in Los Angeles to feel the power of USC athletics. It reverberates through the walls and swirls around all the statues and awards. Some of the booming energy inside this 70,000-square foot sports complex has been generated by the recent victory of the magnificent Women of Troy that comprise the Women’s Golf Team, lead by head coach Andrea Gaston. The USC women’s golf team is one of college’s finest, as witnessed by the program’s first-ever NCAA team title in 2003 and their second in 2008.
Coach Gaston definitely has the “goods” for producing winners. She has coached many LPGA players, Futures Tour Players, major amateur championship winners and College All-Americans. She was recognized for her achievements, receiving her first NGCA National Coach of the Year title in 2008, complimenting awards as the 2008 NCAA West Regional Coach of the Year and the Pac-10 Coach of the Year honors. More impressive than all those accolades is the fact that the team loves her so much that they consider her a second mom. Small wonder the girls are so close to Coach Gaston, who last winter presented them with a cake she had made to announce “Believe in the Dream.” With continuous encouragement throughout a hard-fought season, the team realized that dream with an NCAA Championship win.
And what an amazing team of girls it is! Five of the eight players are from outside the United States, demonstrating there is strength in diversity. Clearly, the members are extremely talented, but they are also passionate, smart, fun and kind. And while it’s always sad to say good-bye to the graduating seniors, the team is more than ready to welcome and nurture their incoming freshmen hopefuls. With gorgeous southern California weather, the promise of an exceptional education, the support of a close-knit team and the guidance of an award-winning coach, dreams are already coming true for these lucky golfer girls.
I got the chance to sit down at Trump National Golf Course (just one of the team’s impressive home courses and training grounds for USC golfers) and to chat with Belen Mozo, Lizette Salas, Stefanie Endstrasser, Victoria Alimonda, Caroline Kim, In-Ah Park, Jennifer Song, and Shelcie Takenouchi, the Superwomen of Troy! I also spent time with Coach Gaston, who shed some light on what it takes to join this impressive group of female golfers. I hope after reading these interviews, you will “Believe in the Dream,” too, and work hard in school and on the course to perhaps someday become a phenomenal Woman of Troy!
Victoria Alimonda
Sao Paola, Brazil
Libby: How is the junior golf in Brazil different than in the US?
Victoria: It’s very small; there are only about 60 junior players in all of Brazil. You don’t have easy access to golf in my country. You have to be a member of a golf club. If your parents aren’t into golf, then it’s tough to get started.
Libby: What tournaments did you play prior to college? Did you play on the AJGA circuit?
Victoria: No, I played in the South American Junior tournaments, and then I played in Uruguay. I played in the Orange Bowl in Florida and, of course, in high school in the US.
Libby: What is your practice schedule like at USC?
Victoria: We practice almost every day. We have Fridays off, but a lot of us still practice on Friday. Monday through Thursday, we practice at least three hours every day.
Libby: What are those three hours like?
Victoria: We do weight lifting for one to one-and-a-half hours, three times every week on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. The remainder of our time, we practice golf. We practice our short game with things like putting drills. Then, we usually play nine holes and finish with some long game practice.
Shelcie Takenouchi
Lihue, HI, USA
Libby: How was high school golf different than playing at USC?
Shelcie: It was a lot different. We practiced almost every day in high school, but it was much less focused. The purpose of our high school practices was to get us in shape for the matches. As USC, the practices are much more structured, and we practice longer hours. It’s really good because the coach is very involved with our practices.
Libby: How do you balance the school work with the demands of the team?
Shelcie: I basically need my planner for everything (laughs). It is really important to plan out each hour.
Libby: What is your favorite thing about playing golf at USC?
Shelcie: My favorite thing is being part of the USC team… and the travel. Being from Hawaii, I didn’t get to see too many places. Being part of the team has allowed me to see all sorts of new areas. The girls on the team really are my best friends, and we get along so well. It’s almost like a sisterhood or a mini sorority.
Libby: What are some of the best places that you’ve been?
Shelcie: I really liked Arizona. I had never been there before, and it was nice to play in one of the top golfing areas in the US. Next week we’re heading off to Tennessee, which is the total opposite of Hawaii (laughs). We went to Washington, DC this summer to visit with the President. That was great!
Belén Mozo
Cadiz, Spain
Libby: How did you first get into golf?
Belén: My brother, who is five years older, started playing, and my mother wanted us to play together. I didn’t like it at first because I was more hyper when I was younger so I preferred more movement-intensive sports, like soccer and tennis.
Libby: How was junior golf in Spain?
Belén: There isn’t as much support for juniors in Spain. You have to be a member of a private club. The biggest tournament is the Spanish Amateur. So, you basically play on your own until you get selected for the Federation, and then you make the National team. Once you make that team, you get to play all over Europe.
Libby: What has been your biggest accomplishment as a junior?
Belén: When I was 17, I was the top junior in Europe.
Libby: Wow!
Belén: In the summer, I won the three biggest tournaments which were the British Amateur, the British Girls, and the Ladies European Individual.
Libby: Congratulations.
Belén: Thanks. I made it to the British Open twice. I guess those are my favorites.
Libby: What is your favorite part of being on the USC team?
Belén: You get to meet some many great people. The seniors graduate, but then we get some really cool freshman. We have a lot of international players and to top it off, we have a really great coach. She is not the type that really gets mad at you if you are playing bad. She’s like a mom to us.
Libby: How did you decide to play for USC?
Belén: Well, I had a lot of options, but I really wanted to play in California. I didn’t know much about the other colleges, like UCLA. I knew about USC and Berkeley because of the movies. Initially, my first choice was Berkeley. After I visited both, I knew that USC was the right place.
Libby: What was it like to meet the President?
Belén: I thought he was going to be shy, but he was very outgoing and cool. There were a lot of other National Championship teams, and the White House was huge. It was a very positive experience.
Stefanie Endstrasser
Waidring, Austria
Libby: What was you biggest accomplishment as a junior?
Stefanie: I won the Austrian Championship 13 times.
Libby: That’s amazing! Was the transition from an individual player to a team player difficult?
Stefanie: Not really. At home, the sad part was that I always had to practice by myself. I really like practicing as a team. It’s much more fun. We push each other. When one of the other players has a shot that I don’t have, it makes me really want to practice harder to learn it.
Libby: What’s your favorite course?
Stefanie: There are a lot of beautiful courses here. At Trump, the view is amazing. We also play LA Country Club and other great courses. I like all of them because they are all different.
Libby: What do you want to do when you graduate?
Stefanie: I want to play professional golf, and I want to do it in the United States. That may involve staying in California or moving somewhere else. I’m not sure where I’ll be.
Caroline Kim
Port Coquitlam, BC, Canada
Libby: How is golf different in Canada?
Caroline: Well, the weather for one. It’s a lot warmer here than back home.
Libby: Are there a lot of junior golf programs in Canada?
Caroline: Yes, there is the RCGA (Royal Canadian Golf Association) and the Provincial Golf Association. There are smaller regional tournaments as well.
Libby: What was your biggest junior golf accomplishment?
Caroline: I would probably have to say the Callaway Junior World where I came in eighth place.
Libby: Was USC always your top pick as a place to go to college?
Caroline: I didn’t realize until I got older that golf would help me get into college. USC was definitely my top pick, but I also looked at the University of Arizona, Ohio State, and Texas Christian University. I visited at all of the schools and made my pick.
Libby: Did you contact the schools first?
Caroline: Yes, I emailed my resume to the top 30 colleges from the Ping College Guide and some of the coaches started emailing me back. Some said that they were full and others expressed interest.
Libby: What is your favorite part about being on the team?
Caroline: Just being around all of my teammates (laughs). It is so good to be on a team like this. Until you’ve experienced it, you can’t know what it is like.
Libby: What is a typical day like?
Caroline: Get up super early. Go to either a workout or practice golf. Get back and either eat a quick lunch or go to class. Then there is homework until you go to bed.
Libby: What should our readers do if they want to play for a high-level golf program like the one at USC?
Caroline: It’s really important to work hard on both your academics and your game to find a good balance. If your grades aren’t where they need to be, then your options are limited.
Libby: What was it like meeting the President?
Caroline: It was really fun. He surprised me because I thought he was going to be really quiet and reserved, but he was really funny and cracking jokes with us as he shook each of our hands.
Lizette Salas
Azusa, CA, USA
Libby: How did you start playing golf?
Lizette: My dad has been working at a golf course since he came from Mexico. When I was seven, he took me to the golf course with him and gave me a golf club.
Libby: What was your biggest accomplishment as a junior golfer?
Lizette: I would have to say it was being the Toyota Tour Cup Player of the Year for three years in a row. Another big thing for me was being the California state champion my senior year in high school.
Libby: How did you decide to come to USC?
Lizette: It was my top choice because it is close to home. There are great facilities, and I like the program and it’s a great school. I had the opportunity to go to other schools – UCLA, Arizona, and Oklahoma State – but USC was the best fit for me.
Libby: What is your biggest accomplishment so far at USC?
Lizette: Since I’m a sophomore, it was being named PAC 10 Freshman of the Year last year. That was quite an honor for me, especially considering how competitive our conference is.
Libby: What was it like to meet the President?
Lizette: Oh my! Just to be shaking hands with the most important person in the country is just so overwhelming. I was so nervous to meet him, but he’s actually a very nice man. It was so fun being around that type of environment.
Libby: What are your goals after you graduate?
Lizette: Since I started golfing, it has been my dream to play professional golf. I plan to turn pro after I graduate.
InAh Park
Las Vegas, NV, USA
Libby: How did you get started with golf?
InAh: My older sister started before I did. She used to play every day. One day, I followed her and got started. (Editors note: Older sister happens to be In Bee Park who plays on the LPGA tour and was the youngest winner of the U.S. Open earlier this year at the age of 19.)
Libby: How did you pick USC?
InAh: Well, I really wanted to play for either USC or UCLA. When I came here, I really liked the school and the coach. The school wasn’t too big, so I felt that I could get to know more of the people. A friend of my sister’s was a former player here, so she made the initial introduction.
Libby: What’s your favorite part of golf?
InAh: I like putting. It’s the toughest part of the game, but it is what makes the score.
Jennifer Song
Daejeon, Korea
Libby: How is golf different here than in South Korea?
Jennifer: The practices here are a lot more open, and we don’t have to just practice at the range. In Korea, they go and hit a lot of balls at the range. I sometimes would see players just hit balls for hours. It didn’t seem like they had a very detailed regimen.
Libby: What tournaments did you play as a junior?
Jennifer: I played at the US Open last year when I was in high school and had the lowest score as an amateur. I also played in some of the other USGA tournaments like the US Public Links Championships, where I was the runner up. I also competed in a number of professional and amateur tournaments in Korea.
Libby: When you were looking at colleges, what were your top picks other than USC?
Jennifer: I was looking at Duke, UCLA and Stanford. I felt that USC had the best athletic department and campus support. I really love my teammates here and especially Coach. She is like a mother and really takes care of each one of us.
Andrea Gaston
USC Women’s Golf Coach for 13 years
Libby: Have you seen a lot of changes in junior female players over the years?
Coach Gaston: A lot of changes. That’s why I really like your article on burn-out. I see a lot of parents pushing their kids and going to every tournament. Their summers are almost more rigorous than an LPGA player’s. What I’ve seen with some of the players is that either in their junior career or in college, they eventually hit the wall, whether it’s their nerves or the pressure of always having to perform. I think it’s important to give them breaks to have a little breather from time to time. Even with my players, I monitor their summers so they don’t over do it. Our spring season is pretty much non-stop from January to May. By the time they’ve completed final exams and competed in the national Championships fatigue can be a factor.
Libby: Where do you look for your top recruits in the US?
Coach Gaston: The AJGA is a top resource. They provide excellent data about the top players and always have competitive fields in their tournaments. I also look at the USGA Championships such as the Public Links, the US Girl’s and now the US Women’s Open. We are seeing more juniors competing at the Open. We often attend the really big events. At the same time, there are sometimes some really talented players competing at the local level.
Libby: You have a great international mix on your team. How does that impact the way the team interacts and operates?
Coach Gaston: When I started coaching, I had a couple of Swedish girls on the team. That’s when I realized that there are a lot of international kids attending U.S. colleges to compete on a team and get their education. Jennifer Rosales was probably one of the first big recruits from the Philippines, and she was very shy. I told the other girls to look at how far she had come and how lonely it could be. I talked about how this could be an opportunity for all of the girls to become friends for a lifetime and to really embrace that opportunity. I think that approach has just grown through the years.
Libby: Even though you are the reigning National Champions, UCLA is currently ranked number one. What are your plans for this year?
Coach Gaston: The fall season is for development. This is the time to be working on our weaknesses, and not just practicing our strengths. This can be most difficult because we gain confidence by practicing what we do well. If we can accomplish this, by the time we begin our spring season, we are a lot stronger both physically and mentally. We are more prepared to handle the rigors of competition, and face adverse conditions.
Our season is defined by how we finish at both the PAC-10 Conference and National Championships. We feel that we can make a good run at defending our titles, and we’ll cartainly give it our best.
Libby: In some of our past issues, we have interviewed Division III and Ivy League schools. With those programs, it is clearly academics first and sports second. How is it at USC?
Coach Gaston: Both go hand in hand. When I recruit, I look for players who are interested in competing at the highest level both academically and athletically. We’ve been fortunate that we haven’t had any girls leave early. There’s nothing better than having that education and degree. USC is not an easy school. You have to work at it. You’re going to be competing with 4.0s and kids who scored really high on their SATs. You have to be ready to work hard.
Libby: How do the players balance school with the requirements of the team?
Coach Gaston: It’s really about keeping a calendar. We give them a calendar so they know about all the workouts, practices and tournaments. They have a responsibility on behalf of the atletics departmant to participate in college tournaments, therefore, they are excused from classes. However, they have a duty to communicate with their professors so they can make up missed class time. Our academic advisors know the practice schedule so they never try to schedule any classes on top of our practices. They have school time, practice time and I tell them to be sure to schedule free time as well. You’ve got to have fun, too. If you want to go to church on Sunday morning then you should be going to church on Sunday morning. It’s important for them to have some balance. You can have it all!
Libby: What do you recommend to our readers who want to play for a top program such as USC?
Coach Gaston: First of all, you want to find a school that is somewhat compatible with your athletic ability. Look at your scores and see how you compare with what the girls on the team are shooting. Where are they ranked? For example, if you are shooting in the mid- to high seventies, going to a school like ours could be discouraging because you may not get a lot of playing time. If your goal is to travel and compete, you should try to match your ability with that of the other players on the team. The same thing goes for academics. You need to go online and see where you fit in. We tell the high school juniors to do their research. We get a lot of letters from players who realistically have no chance of playing for USC because they are shooting in the 80s. That’s where it is also important for parents to assist with the process, to help find programs that best suit their daughter’s abilities. If you are one of the top players, you have to start early because now we are starting to see more and more 14- and 15-year-olds looking at colleges and making commitments really early. There are many things to look at. Do you want a big city or a small city? How important are the practice facilities? What kind of weather do you want? Do you want a school that has its own golf course or one that has a great selection of courses to play from? What are the team and coaches like? So that would be my advice: think about your goals, be realistic about your abilities, and do your research!
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