Evan Thue-

It is certainly an accomplishment to win three out of the last five WIAC women’s golf conference championships. Something great like this does not happen because of just one person, however. Having a great coach guiding the ship, like Coach Howie Samb, can be the difference between a championship team and one that is middle of the road.

“All of our tournaments are 36-hole, two-day events, and the Conference Championship is 54 holes over three days, so the objective was to stay patient and focused,” said Samb. “Not just staying focused but to trying to avoid the bad holes, and also trying to not discuss how the top teams are doing until we have to.”

This past conference tournament as a whole wasn’t easy, and there were quite a few tough moments too. It is in these tough moments that a great coach can make athletes feel comfortable and focus on the “little things.”

On October 9th, the women’s golf team captured their third conference title in the last five years.
On October 9th, the women’s golf team captured their third conference title in the last five years.

“I think the hardest thing was to really get the entire team to focus on their pre-shot routine, the conditions they faced on each shot, and then going ahead and making a good, confident swing,” Samb continued.

One main focus right now is heading back to the national championship. Because of the outright conference victory, the lady Blue Devils get an automatic bid the the NCAA Division III national championships this upcoming spring.

A major task for Coach Samb at the moment is “coming up with a competitive spring schedule that allows the team to stay on top of their school work and prepares them to play the best they can at the NCAA DIII National Tournament, held in Houston this May.”

Best of luck to the ladies of the golf team this season!

 

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