Unusually cold temperatures during late March in the Midwest have forced several Ball State sports teams to work around it, including the women’s golf team.
The team’s top-five golfers were originally supposed to play in the UALR Women’s Golf Classic in Hot Springs Village, Ark., today and Tuesday while the other individuals on the roster would simultaneously play in the Butler Spring Invitational in Avon, Ind.
But because of a winter storm warning and low temperatures in central Indiana, the Butler Spring Invitational has been canceled.
That leaves several raw members of the team out in the cold without a chance to gain experience and show they can be counted on at the backend of the lineup.
As Ball State gets closer to practicing in a more comfortable climate, it could use more of its players to step up.
After ending the fall season with three first-place finishes, Ball State has struggled more in its first two spring events. The team finished sixth out of 12 teams in the Jim West Challenge in 10th out of 17 teams in the Rio Verde Collegiate Invitational.
Even though the team is still practicing indoors and waiting for warmer weather, Arkansas shouldn’t feel much different from Indiana. The forecast for today in Hot Springs Village shows temperatures in the 40s throughout the day, only slightly higher than what Indiana residents have experienced lately. Instead, Ball State will have to worry about the wind conditions during the tournament, which are projected to get up to 18 mph.
Sophomore Jenna Hague leads Ball State into the tournament as its No. 1 golfer, carrying a 77.06 stroke average this season. Junior Meghan Perry (78.06), senior Autumn Duke (78.53) and Zoe Camus (78.76) stand behind her in the order, respectively.
Coach Katherine Mowat could not be reached for comment Sunday night.
The UALR Women’s Golf Classic opens play at 8 a.m. today. The 17-team field will play through 36 holes on the first day and finish with an 18-hole round on Tuesday.
