Colorado State University Athletics
Monday, September 23
Fort Collins, CO / Ptarmigan CC
Colorado State
vs
Ptarmigan Ram Classic Day 1
Getting Into the Collegiate Flow
9/23/2024 7:29:00 PM | Women's Golf
Rams sit tied for third at home tournament
The dynamic of the team is completely different. So was the dynamic of how Monday's two rounds played out on the first day of the Ptarmigan Ram Classic.
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A senior-dominated squad has now become one flush with youth, particularly a trio of freshmen for Colorado State women's golf coach Laura Cilek. She has as much to get used to as her newcomers.
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The leap from the junior circuit and high school tournaments to collegiate rounds can be daunting, and each player will have their own rudder for navigation. So does Cilek, coming to terms with the notion some days she may feel like her program is swimming upstream.
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"I've had 12 years of freshmen, and a lot of the times they're super similar," Cilek said. "You just have to reassure them."
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Two of them were in the lineup on a day they shot the 36 holes at 4-under as a team to sit third. UC Davis leads the field at 13-under, with Cal Poly just a stroke behind as only four of the 11 teams finished in red numbers.
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One third of the individual's did as well, with a Ram near the top. Pemika Arphamongkol finished in a flurry to sit at 8-under, two strokes back of Washington State's Alice Johnson. CSU sophomore came in at 4-under, sitting in a tie for 10th on the leaderboard.
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Jacinda Lee, one of the trio of freshmen, has played in both tournaments. She was the leading Ram at the Folds of Honor, a rough introduction to the world of college golf. Being at home the second time around brought a greater sense of comfort, though she said the team has made it very easy to feel that way, especially since she's one of three first-years.
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Lee's first day had her at 3-over, carding three birdies the first round, one the second.
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"I'd say it's been good. It's been steady," she said about the start of her career. "I mean, I didn't really have any expectations coming into it because I just wanted to adjust to college golf in the first place. I'd say I've been navigating it pretty well.
Â
"I would say Fold of Honor helped prepare me for what it's like to play college golf. That was a big steppingstone. To be at the tournament in the first place was an amazing experience."
Â
What stands out about her is her diminutive size. She stands 5-foot – in shoes. She was issued an extra small shirt, but it looks like she's wearing a large. She's also not getting out-driven on the course and goes out with a plan of attack.
Â
Cilek said she may be the smallest recruit she's ever signed – and didn't lose a bit of sleep doing so.
"She's the scrappiest athlete I've ever recruited. She's so good at just pulling the club, picking it, standing up and hitting it," Cilek said. "It doesn't matter how it gets there. She doesn't care and looks forward to the next shot. She's very self-sufficient, willing to learn and open minded. I think she's going to have a great career and keep growing. She hits the ball out there as far as Kara somedays, who's the longest on our team.
Â
"She's really good at just playing her game, which is so important in golf. Play your own game and you'll be successful."
Â
Exactly, said Kaneshiro, who should know. She posted the most successful campaign of any freshman in program history a year ago taking the very same approach. The best part about being a sophomore on a team with three freshmen is she's no longer the youngest and can now pick on them.
Â
Encourage them, too,
Â
"I tell them to have fun and trust your game. Freshman year, there's a lot of nerves," she said. "If they trust their game and have fun out there, the results will show."
Â
That's a requirement, even on their home course. As much as the Rams play the Ptarmigan Country Club, the two halves played much differently. The team was much better on the back nine than the front, particularly in the first round.
Â
Kaneshiro had six birdies and an eagle on the back nine Monday, just two birdies on the front.
Â
"It is weird, because I think the back nine actually plays a little tougher than the front. The front did have tougher pins, and I think we all managed the back really well," she said. "There are some scoreable holes coming in the last three. I think you definitely think about it more. Some holes there is water, and you can see it. It forces you to hit good shots."
Â
Which is all she and the Rams want to do on the final day. Stay steady, stay true and be aggressive when the moment presents itself.
Â
She learned to do it last year, and she feels even more comfortable a year later.
Â
"I think the second day, I'm just going try to shoot as low as I can," she said. "I think there will be tougher pins, so hit the green, one or two putt and see what happens. It's going to feel like it's going to fly by so fast after today."
Â
Almost like a season. Even a career. Before too long, the freshmen will realize it too.
Â
Â
A senior-dominated squad has now become one flush with youth, particularly a trio of freshmen for Colorado State women's golf coach Laura Cilek. She has as much to get used to as her newcomers.
Â
The leap from the junior circuit and high school tournaments to collegiate rounds can be daunting, and each player will have their own rudder for navigation. So does Cilek, coming to terms with the notion some days she may feel like her program is swimming upstream.
Â
"I've had 12 years of freshmen, and a lot of the times they're super similar," Cilek said. "You just have to reassure them."
Â
Two of them were in the lineup on a day they shot the 36 holes at 4-under as a team to sit third. UC Davis leads the field at 13-under, with Cal Poly just a stroke behind as only four of the 11 teams finished in red numbers.
Â
One third of the individual's did as well, with a Ram near the top. Pemika Arphamongkol finished in a flurry to sit at 8-under, two strokes back of Washington State's Alice Johnson. CSU sophomore came in at 4-under, sitting in a tie for 10th on the leaderboard.
Â
Jacinda Lee, one of the trio of freshmen, has played in both tournaments. She was the leading Ram at the Folds of Honor, a rough introduction to the world of college golf. Being at home the second time around brought a greater sense of comfort, though she said the team has made it very easy to feel that way, especially since she's one of three first-years.
Â
Lee's first day had her at 3-over, carding three birdies the first round, one the second.
Â
"I'd say it's been good. It's been steady," she said about the start of her career. "I mean, I didn't really have any expectations coming into it because I just wanted to adjust to college golf in the first place. I'd say I've been navigating it pretty well.
Â
"I would say Fold of Honor helped prepare me for what it's like to play college golf. That was a big steppingstone. To be at the tournament in the first place was an amazing experience."
Â
What stands out about her is her diminutive size. She stands 5-foot – in shoes. She was issued an extra small shirt, but it looks like she's wearing a large. She's also not getting out-driven on the course and goes out with a plan of attack.
Â
Cilek said she may be the smallest recruit she's ever signed – and didn't lose a bit of sleep doing so.
"She's the scrappiest athlete I've ever recruited. She's so good at just pulling the club, picking it, standing up and hitting it," Cilek said. "It doesn't matter how it gets there. She doesn't care and looks forward to the next shot. She's very self-sufficient, willing to learn and open minded. I think she's going to have a great career and keep growing. She hits the ball out there as far as Kara somedays, who's the longest on our team.
Â
"She's really good at just playing her game, which is so important in golf. Play your own game and you'll be successful."
Â
Exactly, said Kaneshiro, who should know. She posted the most successful campaign of any freshman in program history a year ago taking the very same approach. The best part about being a sophomore on a team with three freshmen is she's no longer the youngest and can now pick on them.
Â
Encourage them, too,
Â
"I tell them to have fun and trust your game. Freshman year, there's a lot of nerves," she said. "If they trust their game and have fun out there, the results will show."
Â
That's a requirement, even on their home course. As much as the Rams play the Ptarmigan Country Club, the two halves played much differently. The team was much better on the back nine than the front, particularly in the first round.
Â
Kaneshiro had six birdies and an eagle on the back nine Monday, just two birdies on the front.
Â
"It is weird, because I think the back nine actually plays a little tougher than the front. The front did have tougher pins, and I think we all managed the back really well," she said. "There are some scoreable holes coming in the last three. I think you definitely think about it more. Some holes there is water, and you can see it. It forces you to hit good shots."
Â
Which is all she and the Rams want to do on the final day. Stay steady, stay true and be aggressive when the moment presents itself.
Â
She learned to do it last year, and she feels even more comfortable a year later.
Â
"I think the second day, I'm just going try to shoot as low as I can," she said. "I think there will be tougher pins, so hit the green, one or two putt and see what happens. It's going to feel like it's going to fly by so fast after today."
Â
Almost like a season. Even a career. Before too long, the freshmen will realize it too.
Â
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
Laura Cilek Press Conference
Thursday, August 07
Colorado State Golf (W): Ron Moore Recap
Monday, October 11
Colorado State Golf (W): Ron Moore Day 1 Highlights
Friday, October 08
Women's Golf Coach Laura Cilek and CAM the Ram Spread Ag Day Orange Out Across Campus
Thursday, September 19