The Wayne State College women’s golf team heads off to Missouri to head into their final three tournaments of the season. 

The team is gearing up for the NSIC conference meet in one week. On Monday, April 4, the women’s golf team headed to Sand Creek Stations to compete in the Newman Jets Invite.  

The Wildcats are seeing a lot of familiar teams in this tournament, but they have their eyes set on a certain team.  

“We have seen a lot of teams, but our main opponent is Augustana who is number one in our conference,” Jaz Taylor, a sophomore golfer, said.

Following the Newman tournament, the team had their second annual home golf meet at the Wayne Country Club April 11 and 12.  

After being on the road all season the team is excited to be home.  

“We are super excited for the home meet we know the course like the back of our hand, and we are feeling confident about the tournament,” Taylor said.  

Head Coach Joey Baldwin suggests the meet is bigger than the school level.  

“It is always special to play our home course,” Baldwin said. “Wayne is a big golfing community, and we have a lot of support from the college and throughout the town.” 

The golf team has had continued success throughout this season, placing top ten in every tournament producing confidence for the whole team.  

Taylor thinks the team just needs to work on the mental aspect of golf taking more time to be methodical about shots taken on the course.  

“I think as a team we are a lot more confident from the success we have had in our conference,” Taylor said.  

When it comes to improvement, Baldwin has been extremely happy with how the season has gone.  

“We are consistently improving every day,” Baldwin said. “Golf is a sport filled with ups and downs. You aren’t always going to play your best, but as long as you go about the right way and work hard good things will happen. We are still a very young team, but we have made great strides in just two seasons.” 

After the team got reinstated just two years ago, the team fought to the top rankings in the NSIC. 

“We have made great progress in just a short time,” Baldwin said. “I would be lying if I said I thought we would be number two in scoring average this quickly. I am very competitive, and I am trying to instill that in our players. Our girls are learning to practice the correct way and they work very hard. We want to be able to compete in our conference and region year in and year out.” 

The team is looking for the gold, seeing number one ranked Augustana in the rest of their meets. The ‘Cats are currently ranked number two in the conference, and they do not plan to let off the gas anytime soon.  

“The next two tournaments we are seeing Augustana and how we perform against them is crucial,” Taylor said.  

With the conference tournament rapidly approaching, Baldwin believes his team is well prepared to accomplish their goals.  

“With our season it is a marathon, not a sprint,” Baldwin said. “I tell our girls at the beginning of fall everything we do is preparing us for the conference tournament. We want to be peaking at the right time in April, I believe if we go there and play 3 great rounds of golf, we will be able to contend for the top spot.”