SE: K-State WGLF’s Freshmen Among Nation’s Best
Feb 26, 2018 | Women's Golf, Sports Extra
By Corbin McGuire
Two Texans, an Australian and a Northern Ireland native walk up to the first tee together, laughing.
No, this is not the start of a joke. It's a usual sight for K-State women's golf, specifically its four freshmen — Texans Reid Isaac and Darby Deans, along with Australian Ella Adams and Northern Ireland's Niamh McSherry. It's just one reason why K-State's freshmen are among the best first-year players in the country.
"They're just a good group, they all get along and they give each other a hard time, which I think is important," K-State head coach Kristi Knight said of her freshmen. "That's why you do this. If you're not having fun then you shouldn't be doing it. Even on the hard days, we try to make it fun and keep perspective. At the end of the day, you're chasing a golf ball around. It's not life or death. I think they get that."
Adams said keeping a light-hearted atmosphere on the course is extremely important, especially with the built-in stress of school and being hundreds, if not thousands, of miles away from home.
"You can get caught up in everything and then time passes and you realize you're not happy, but you have to have fun and enjoy it," said Adams, who posted a 7-under par 65 — the second-lowest 18-hole score in K-State history — on Sunday to open the Westbrook Invitational in Peoria, Arizona. "When you have fun, you normally play better too."
It's safe to say K-State's freshmen had their fair share of fun in the fall.
Isaac, Adams and McSherry finished the first half of the season with K-State's second-, fourth- and fifth-best scoring averages, respectively, helping their team win two tournaments along the way. Heading into the Westbrook Invitational on Sunday, Golfstat.com ranked those three Wildcats' contributions this season first in the country, among freshmen only.
When informed of their rank, most of the Wildcat freshmen reacted the same way, at least initially.
"It's unreal," said Isaac, who finished the fall season with an individual title at the Trinity Forest Golf Club, home of the PGA Tour's Byron Nelson Classic in May.
"It was initial shock, but then I realized how well we've actually done as a team over the fall semester," McSherry added of the ranking. "We all work really, really hard and we all aim for the same goals. There's no reason we shouldn't be up there."
K-State's freshmen share more than a strong work ethic and confident mindset, too. From day one, they seemed to click, partly because they are all in the same situation: Away from home for the first time.
"We're all really close. We live together. We see each other every day. We have dinner together every day. We just get along so well," Adams said, tied for 12th after two rounds of the Westbrook Invitational, with one more round to play on Monday. "It helps having people from all over the world, so I'm not the only one going through it. They're all going through the same thing. It makes it a bit easier."
"We've all bonded from the beginning. We all come from different places but we all understand each other really well," added McSherry, at even par after two rounds in Arizona. "We all get our games and all know what's best for the team. That's our number one goal every day, to work so hard for the team so that we achieve those kinds of successes."
Like their accents, each freshman brought a unique golfing style as well, formed from the types of courses they grew up playing on. As a result, the Wildcats have picked up different shots from each other to add to their games. Not to mention the influence of Knight and assistant coach Jared Helin.
"I think I've grown just being around people who play differently than me and having different coaches has given me a new perspective and kind of a new way to play, different strategies and different ways to take on golf courses," Isaac said.
K-State's freshmen also agreed that the impact of senior Connie Jaffrey's leadership could not be overstated.
"She's been an absolutely huge influence," McSherry said. "We look for her for inspiration. She is a very good college player. We always go to her with questions and she's willing to answer everything honestly. Just watching her on the golf course, I've definitely learned a lot from the way she plays and the way she thinks. I think it's helped all of us as a team."
Like their lone senior, K-State's freshmen bring ambitious goals to the course.
"I know the most tournaments K-State has ever won in a full season has been three, and we've won two," Isaac said. "So I know our goal is to win two more and break that record."
"Our number one goal this semester is to get to nationals," McSherry added. "We know how good we are. Every day that we are with each other, we are pushing ourselves, whether that's in the gym, on the golf course or in the classroom to make sure you're getting your work done. We all motivate each other."
Two Texans, an Australian and a Northern Ireland native walk up to the first tee together, laughing.
No, this is not the start of a joke. It's a usual sight for K-State women's golf, specifically its four freshmen — Texans Reid Isaac and Darby Deans, along with Australian Ella Adams and Northern Ireland's Niamh McSherry. It's just one reason why K-State's freshmen are among the best first-year players in the country.
"They're just a good group, they all get along and they give each other a hard time, which I think is important," K-State head coach Kristi Knight said of her freshmen. "That's why you do this. If you're not having fun then you shouldn't be doing it. Even on the hard days, we try to make it fun and keep perspective. At the end of the day, you're chasing a golf ball around. It's not life or death. I think they get that."
Adams said keeping a light-hearted atmosphere on the course is extremely important, especially with the built-in stress of school and being hundreds, if not thousands, of miles away from home.
"You can get caught up in everything and then time passes and you realize you're not happy, but you have to have fun and enjoy it," said Adams, who posted a 7-under par 65 — the second-lowest 18-hole score in K-State history — on Sunday to open the Westbrook Invitational in Peoria, Arizona. "When you have fun, you normally play better too."
It's safe to say K-State's freshmen had their fair share of fun in the fall.
Isaac, Adams and McSherry finished the first half of the season with K-State's second-, fourth- and fifth-best scoring averages, respectively, helping their team win two tournaments along the way. Heading into the Westbrook Invitational on Sunday, Golfstat.com ranked those three Wildcats' contributions this season first in the country, among freshmen only.
When informed of their rank, most of the Wildcat freshmen reacted the same way, at least initially.
"It's unreal," said Isaac, who finished the fall season with an individual title at the Trinity Forest Golf Club, home of the PGA Tour's Byron Nelson Classic in May.
"It was initial shock, but then I realized how well we've actually done as a team over the fall semester," McSherry added of the ranking. "We all work really, really hard and we all aim for the same goals. There's no reason we shouldn't be up there."
K-State's freshmen share more than a strong work ethic and confident mindset, too. From day one, they seemed to click, partly because they are all in the same situation: Away from home for the first time.
"We're all really close. We live together. We see each other every day. We have dinner together every day. We just get along so well," Adams said, tied for 12th after two rounds of the Westbrook Invitational, with one more round to play on Monday. "It helps having people from all over the world, so I'm not the only one going through it. They're all going through the same thing. It makes it a bit easier."
"We've all bonded from the beginning. We all come from different places but we all understand each other really well," added McSherry, at even par after two rounds in Arizona. "We all get our games and all know what's best for the team. That's our number one goal every day, to work so hard for the team so that we achieve those kinds of successes."
Like their accents, each freshman brought a unique golfing style as well, formed from the types of courses they grew up playing on. As a result, the Wildcats have picked up different shots from each other to add to their games. Not to mention the influence of Knight and assistant coach Jared Helin.
"I think I've grown just being around people who play differently than me and having different coaches has given me a new perspective and kind of a new way to play, different strategies and different ways to take on golf courses," Isaac said.
K-State's freshmen also agreed that the impact of senior Connie Jaffrey's leadership could not be overstated.
"She's been an absolutely huge influence," McSherry said. "We look for her for inspiration. She is a very good college player. We always go to her with questions and she's willing to answer everything honestly. Just watching her on the golf course, I've definitely learned a lot from the way she plays and the way she thinks. I think it's helped all of us as a team."
Like their lone senior, K-State's freshmen bring ambitious goals to the course.
"I know the most tournaments K-State has ever won in a full season has been three, and we've won two," Isaac said. "So I know our goal is to win two more and break that record."
"Our number one goal this semester is to get to nationals," McSherry added. "We know how good we are. Every day that we are with each other, we are pushing ourselves, whether that's in the gym, on the golf course or in the classroom to make sure you're getting your work done. We all motivate each other."
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
K-State Women's Golf | Carla Bernat ANWA Recognition
Tuesday, November 11
K-State Women's Golf | Behind The Scenes Photoshoot
Tuesday, November 11
K-State Men's Golf | Wildcat Invitational
Tuesday, November 11
K-State WGOLF | Carla Bernat Augusta National Women's Amateur Recognition
Saturday, November 01
