OREGON – The Lady Giants have a new leader in the clubhouse.
Alana Smith
Freshman Alana Smith entered Wednesday’s TRAC Jamboree trailing junior Shelby Level by less than a stroke for the team lead in scoring average.
In sweltering conditions, Smith again carded the Lady Giants’ lowest score of the round and officially took over the top spot on Ross’ season-long leaderboard. Her round of 47 lowered her nine-hole average to 53.9, moving her past Level’s 55.1 after she shot a 55 Wednesday.
“She is hitting the ball well, making good contact and making smart plays,” coach Nicole Kulasa said of Smith. “And she’s making the putts when they count. That’s what’s really helping her game.”
As a team, the Lady Giants turned in a score of 226, one shot behind Whitmer, finishing sixth in the jamboree. Contributing to Ross’ score was Sarah Widman’s 61 and Jasannah Sabiers’ 63.
Though it didn’t count toward the Lady Giants’ team score, Kulasa was particularly pleased by first-year golfer Madison Hunt, whose 67 marked the first time she’s broken 70 in her young career.
Madison Hunt
“She’s making better contact and for a first-time golfer, that’s huge,” Kulasa said.
Kulasa also liked her team’s attitude toward the day’s unforgiving temperatures through the course of the three-and-a-half-hour round.
“I think they came out with positive attitudes and they handled it well because we shot a 226 which is great for us, normally in the 230-range, so we’ll definitely take a 226,” she said. “They didn’t quit. Was it hot? Yeah. Did they get tired? Yeah. But they kept with it and they kept trying hard.”
The Lady Giants are back on the course Thursday at the Fremont Country Club when they host Bellevue.