East Tennessee State spent the week at Red Sky Golf Club in Wolcott, Colorado, juggling numbers. Golf at elevation – especially for a team coming from the Volunteer State – requires quite a bit of math.
“Obviously it was an adjustment and then when the winds picked up, it made it even more – you’re shooting the flag, you’re throwing up for the wind, you’re taking off for elevation, you’re adding for slope because it’s not a flat golf course either,” said ETSU head coach Stefanie Shelton.
Under such conditions, it’s important to pick a number and ultimately commit to it, and the Buccaneers were able to do it on their way to winning the Golfweek Red Sky Classic. When a storm passed over the area during Tuesday’s second round, chopping up the day and causing the tournament to be reduced from 54 holes to 36, ETSU players gritted their teeth and kept going. The Bucs had already secured a share of the lead in the first round and wouldn’t let go.
“They come to play,” Shelton said.
Scores: Golfweek Red Sky Classic
ETSU opened its season close to home earlier this month at the Tennessee-hosted Mercedes-Benz Invitational and finished 10th. Shelton said her players expected more from themselves.
Real “college-golf conditions,” as she called the weather at Red Sky, set up an opportunity to test that. Shelton said the whole team tried to relax as conditions worsened.
On the individual leaderboard, Tereza Melecka finished second, Sera Hasegawa tied for third and Hollie Muse tied for sixth. ETSU’s 6-under team total left them one shot ahead of Denver.
“I thought this team was extremely tough this week and really never showed signs of letting up or letting anything bother them,” Shelton said. “Of course it was cold and windy and we all had our gloves on and needing umbrellas and things but yeah, they just accepted it and kept playing. I was very proud of that.”
Absolutely! This is my #CollegeGolfTweetOfTheDay https://t.co/SnSRC1c18l
— Lance Ringler (@GolfweekRingler) September 30, 2021
Last spring, ETSU won the Southern Conference title to earn an Automatic Qualifying spot in the postseason. They were sent to the LSU-hosted NCAA Regional in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, which was controversially canceled. As a result of no golf being played, the top six seeds were selected to advance from the site. ETSU was No. 16.
The turnover from that team was significant as Shelton graduated three players and brought in some new blood for this season. Shelton, however, remembers not only the frustration but the realization that came from being a championship team. Both are motivating for her, and the two returners from that squad.
“The two that came back, being part of a championship team – that does give you the confidence that we are champions and we’re coming everywhere to play and play well and I think the newcomers, they’re stepping into a team that just won a championship and want to play well,” she said.
Two tournaments in, Shelton likes the vibe.
“Really seem to have that tough and go play, do-anything mindset.”
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