In its final event before the WAC tournament, Idaho women’s golf hopes to continue its success and repeat individual victory of two years ago.
The team travels to the Golden State for the Anteater Invitational Monday and Tuesday, hosted by UC Irvine at the Dove Canyon Country Club in Irvine.
The Vandals are coming off a solid performance at the Dr. Donnis Thompson Invitational in Hawaii where the team took sixth and Idaho’s Kayla Mortellaro claimed her ninth career collegiate victory. Mortellaro was also named WAC golfer of the week. It’s the 13th time in her career she has won the WAC weekly, or monthly award.
Mortellaro won the Anteater Invitational in 2010 and Idaho coach Lisa Johnson said the senior has a legitimate shot at another victory in California.
“She’s a steady golfer,” Johnson said. “The strongest part of her game is her mental game and she’s been working on that in the three-and-a-half years here. She’ll be the best ranked player in the field.”
Idaho has been solid this year, but is struggling in its short game. Johnson said she likes the way her team has improved, but said there is more work to be done.
“I feel like every week we improve a little bit and every tournament we walk away with lessons which will help us going forward,” Johnson said. “The problem has been our inability to make putts, but our short game is improving.”
Johnson said this week’s focus has been on the team’s short game — emphasizing putting and chipping. Johnson said the weather caused a few issues with practice and the team will practice in Lewiston instead of staying on campus.
The 54-hole Anteater Invitational will feature a field of 15 teams that includes Boise State, BYU, Cal State Fullerton, Cal State Northridge, Delaware, Idaho, Long Beach State, Montana, Portland State, Sacramento State, San Francisco, Santa Clara, UC Irvine, UC Riverside and Washington State.
Johnson said Dove Canyon offers some challenges.
“The Dove Canyon Country Club is an excellent golf course,” Johnson said. “UC Irvine set it up very fair. The greens have a tendency to be firm and fast. It takes a good striking team, which I think we are. The hardest part will be the par 3s because the winds tend to swirl.”
The Anteater Invitational is the last event before the WAC championship April 23 to 25.
Johnson said her team is playing with confidence and if a few individuals take off a few strokes, it will be in good position to make an impact.
“I think the morale is great,” Johnson said. “We’re a confident team and I keep telling them that we’re on the verge of playing great golf. We just need to put it together.”