After a string of successful performances in the fall tournaments, the Kennesaw State women’s golf team is prepared to begin its 2020 campaign, beginning on Sunday, Feb. 2, at the UCF Challenge at Eagle Creek Golf Club in Orlando, Florida.
The Owls will compete in a field of 16 teams from colleges around the country. Four teams will begin the tournament with a top-25 ranking — the group contains third-ranked Kent State, No. 13 Michigan State, No. 14 Illinois and No.15 Oklahoma State.
“We’re heading to [the University of Central Florida] with a really deep field,” KSU head coach Rhyll Brinsmead told KSU Athletics. “So, no better way to start the spring season.”
In the 2019 UCF Challenge, the Owls finished in fifth place with a collective score of nine under-par. The Owls were led by a top-ten score from Clara Aveling, who shot even-par for the weekend.
Aveling was named the 2018-19 Atlantic Sun Conference Player of the Year after leading her team with eight rounds under par in her junior season. She earned seven top-20 finishes throughout the season and placed third overall in the 2019 ASUN Championships.
Now entering her senior year, Aveling will bring a much-needed level of experience to the young KSU team. She is the only senior on the Owls’ 2020 roster, which consists of four freshmen and one junior. Aveling’s experience will be especially valuable in Orlando, as she is the only player on the team to have played at Eagle Creek.
“Clara Aveling has played there before. No one else will have seen it, but we’ve been talking about it and she’s got that experience.” Brimsmead said. “In the practice round, we’ll focus on the places to attack and places to be defensive.”
The team participated in three tournaments during Fall 2019 and earned a top-10 finish on two occasions. Most notably, the Owls placed seventh overall at the Golfweek Conference Challenge from Sept. 23 to Sept. 25, behind strong showings from freshman Meva Schmit and junior Tai Anudit.
Schmit has proven herself to be a valuable addition for the Owls in her first season with the team. A native of Bali, Indonesia, Schmit was recruited to KSU after winning the 2018 Indonesian Junior Amateur Championship, according to KSU Athletics. In September, the freshman was named Women’s Golfer of the Week by the ASUN Conference after tying for eighth overall in her first collegiate competition.
KSU will welcome another first-year player this spring, as freshman Alizee Vidal will play her first match as an Owl at the UCF Challenge. Vidal hails from Le Gosier, France, and signed with the team in March of 2019. Prior to joining the team, Vidal participated on the French National team and competed in several European amateur tournaments.
“[Vidal is] A long-anticipated addition to the roster, and she’s hit the ground running,” Brimsmead said. “Just a really solid game. She’s a long-ball striker, and super athletic.”
Following its spring season-opener at the UCF Challenge, KSU will rest for a week before traveling to Melbourne, Florida, to participate in the Moon Golf Invitational from Feb. 17 to Feb. 18.
