Hoosiers looking forward to upcoming season

Being positive and excited about an upcoming season never hurts, especially if you genuinely believe it.\nThat is how IU coach Clint Wallman feels about the upcoming women's golf season. \n"I am very excited and so optimistic about the upcoming campaign," Wallman said. "Our team has a great blend of youth and experience and a group of players who could compete in anything."\nIU will compete in 10 regular season tournaments between Saturday and April 22, taking only a three-month break in the winter when the weather is too cold and golf courses are frozen. \nWallman said that while all of the matches are important, the upcoming season opener is the most crucial.\n"The first (tournament) is the (most important)," he said. "You can't look past anything, and we need to focus on this weekend first and foremost."\nWhile golf is important, some players like freshman Anita Gahir know that other things require just as much attention.\n"(One of my main goals) is to keep my grade point average up and still do well in the tournaments," Gahir said.\nFellow freshman Kellye Belcher echoed that statement.\n"Keeping my grades up is one of my main goals," said Belcher.\nEven though the team members are focused on academics, that does not mean golf is not on their minds.\n"I want to qualify for every tournament," said freshmen Laura Nochta, referring to the fact that only five out of IU's nine players participate in the matches.\nAlthough playing on a home golf course gives the team an advantage, IU will play no tournaments at home, Wallman said. However, the prospect of playing on the road does not faze junior Elaine Harris, who said road games are a good way to get to know people.\n"It is a lucky thing we play on the road all the time because we get to bond and know our teammates better," she said.\nDespite the closeness of the team, Harris recognizes that golf is an individual sport, and it is still every person for herself. But the players also want to see their teammates perform well.\n"I want to do well myself and succeed most of all, even though we still cheer each other on," Harris said. \nSenior Jenny Kim said she wants to see the team succeed in her last year after achieving only mediocre results in her first three.\n"We want to improve on last season and qualify for postseason play, finally," Kim said.\nIU kicks off its season this weekend in Madison, Wis., where it will compete in the Lady Badger Tournament Sunday and Monday.\nWallman said practice is very important, and he will have his team ready for each and every tournament.\n"We structure and prepare specifically for the course we will play on. We feel are ready to go this season," he said.