UCLA women’s golf ready for the rain at Pac-12 championship

It’s said that April showers bring May flowers, but how about victories? That’s certainly the hope of the UCLA women’s golf team as it faces wet and windy conditions this weekend in Corvallis, Ore., in the Pac-12 women’s golf championship, its last event before heading into the NCAA championship rounds next month.

“It’ll be a lot different than what we’ve had in Southern California,” said freshman Alison Lee in regard to the weather, as she returns to the team after finishing tied for 29th as an amateur at the LPGA’s season-opening major, the Kraft Nabisco Championship, earlier this month.

However different the climate might be this weekend, it certainly does not mean the team hasn’t prepared for such elements. Anyone who might have happened to come across the team prepping for the tournament Monday afternoon could bear witness to this fact after seeing an unusual spectacle.

“When we had practice on Monday on campus, our coach had us bring our rain gear and put our rain gear on, and she turned on the water hose and was spraying us with water,” Lee said with a laugh.

She also noted the benefits of such training, which might appear unorthodox to an outsider – wearing more layers and practicing in slippery conditions is different than what the team is accustomed to.

“We had some fun,” said coach Carrie Forsyth. “We never get to wear our rain gear, so I had them, well, we did a little simulated rain practice. If you live in Southern California, you’ve got to find a way to make rain. … I had fun at least.”

But she was not alone.

“It was really quite funny,” said junior Erynne Lee, who happens to be quite accustomed to playing in the less-than-ideal golfing weather, growing up in Washington. “Being back in the Pacific Northwest is really refreshing. I love it here. I love the rain. I love this overcast. I love the 50-degree weather.”

Erynne Lee said Monday’s unconventional practice showed that the Bruins are willing to do whatever it takes to reach the level it is at and to prepare for the tournament.

The Bruins will need all the expertise and work ethic they have put into the past two weeks of downtime from competition to face the challenges imposed by the conference’s tournament. GolfWeekRankings.com has the No. 2 Bruins charted as only one of six Pac-12 teams in the nation’s top 10, including crosstown rival No. 1 USC.

“I would not be surprised if the national champion comes out of our conference for sure,” Forsyth said of the competition. “Hopefully that’s going to be our team, but we’ve got to play our best and really go out there with our best foot forward.”

And according to the coach, the Bruins are poised to do just that. Forsyth said she was excited about the week of practice and thought the Bruins would play well at the tournament.

With a whole and healthy team, united by some unique methods of rehearsal, the Bruins seek to recapture the Pac-12 championship for the first time since their three-peat from 2004 through 2006 and gain their sixth title in the event’s 26-year history.