Oehrlein Addresses Media
April 22, 2008 | Women's Golf
Wisconsin's head women's golf coach, Todd Oehrlein addressed the media Monday about this weekend's Big Ten Championships.
The full transcript of Oehrlein's remarks is below, or you can click id=2177"> --> here to view the video.
OEHRLEIN'S OPENING COMMENTS: As mentioned, we have finished in the top five, fifth place in each of our last two invitationals. They're both great tournaments as well, very strong, deep fields, and I'm pleased with how we're playing right now. We continue to improve throughout the spring. As always, for a spring sport, that's something that is really important for us that we need to continue to show development and progress as we move through and move forward.
I guess the biggest thing that's made the difference is that we've been in addition to this being a little more consistent and obviously a little sharper as things have improved around here, we've just been more balanced. That's been a big key for us, and that's going to be a key point as we move forward into this weekend, into the Big Ten championships.
We need to be six strong and we need to have balance and depth and really no one player or two players are probably going to carry the team forward. We have to have that kind of consistency and that kind of balance as we move into the Big Ten tournament this weekend.
We've had great production the last two weeks from a true freshman, Carly Werwie, who's played outstanding, just continues to get comfortable, as so often happens with freshmen when they come in. And Kelsey Verbeten and Katie Elliott have continued to do a great job. As Jeana and Natasha have played more and more consistently and given us the scores, that's when we tend to put some solid rounds out.
We're excited about moving forward. The golf course is, I've heard is in very good shape, came through the winter great, over at Penn State, so we're looking forward to it. And we're excited about moving forward.
QUESTION #1: Last couple of years, or almost four or five now, you've been sort of at a plateau there, where you have been finishing. Are you looking to sort of break out of that this year' Is this your year to do that'
OEHRLEIN: I hope so. We're playing better right now going into the tournament than what we have the last couple of years, so signs would indicate that we are prepared. I think with a good strong showing and just having a balanced performance, I don't think a top-half finish is out of the question. I think that's something that is a goal moving forward. Where in that top half, you never know.
You go to tournaments to play to win golf tournaments, obviously, and yet you can 't control what other teams do either. And so we have to worry about what we 're doing and play smart and take what the golf course gives us and play as well as we can. So I certainly feel that we're prepared to take that jump, and now it 's just time to get out there and tee it up on Thursday and play well.
QUESTION #2: Todd, when you look at the other teams in the conference, you know, they'd be ranked ahead of you or below you or whatever the case may be, but is there that much of a difference' Does it just really depend on how you play on any given day'
OEHRLEIN: There's a major, the teams in the middle of the pack right now, in the middle of the conference, are very closely rated, and it is very much so, you tee it up and who plays well that week is going to win, you know. The favorite going into the tournament would be Purdue right now, and Purdue is having an outstanding season. I mean, right now they're ranked top five in the country.
And you know, they're the favorite going into the tournament. Michigan State has had a great season, and yet we played Michigan State this weekend and were very competitive. They got us by six shots. We beat them the final round. Certainly anything is possible, without question. I mean, as I said, that's why you go and you go play, and that's what everybody's goal is, is to win a Big Ten championship. But, the remainder of the teams are very, very tight and very competitive, and it truly is a fine line.
QUESTION #3: Can you tell us a little bit more about Carly and how she has progressed, because sometimes freshmen walk in, no matter what the sport is, and can't figure it out their first year.
OEHRLEIN: You know, Carly has just been very patient and her work habits are outstanding, and that's allowed her to work through the adjustment early on. And she's obviously very talented. Everybody is probably familiar with what she did as a junior player and you recognize her from the high school, from her high school scores and her junior record, but at the same point, there 's an adjustment when you come to college, and it's another level.
She has been patient and she has worked extremely hard, and I think those are the keys to making that step. In particular in her golf game, I would say the biggest difference is she just has taken a really significant jump in how well she's putting right now and her short game in general. Just she's saving shots that early on in the fall she wasn't able to save and she would just, wasn't holding rounds together the way she is at this point.
QUESTION #4: . . . ask you about Katie too, you know . . . her dad is listening too . . . how has she played as the year has moved along, and might she be able to do some damage this weekend'
OEHRLEIN: Oh, she's certainly capable. And without question, she's had another great year. She's had an individual victory again already this season and has played very well at stretches and is always solid. And so Katie has been just a tremendous player for us in her time here.
You ask about can she do some damage moving forward, without question. I mean, Katie goes into this tournament looking to be the individual medalist, and that's something that she'll work hard on this week and she'll come in and she 'll be prepared. You know that without question, when that tournament starts, she 'll be prepared and excited to get it started.
