Oct. 12, 2011
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By Eric DeSalvo
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - Fresh off of propelling the UCF women's golf team to the Lady Northern Invitational tournament title at French Lick Resort in Indiana, freshman Katie Mitchell has been named Conference USA Women's Golfer of the Week. This is the first-career award for the Fernandina Beach native.
With Mitchell honored by the league Tuesday, this is the first player of the week award the UCF women's team has received since juniors Valentina Fontaine (Santiago, Chile) and Carolin Pinegger (Marquartstein, Germany) won it in the 2009-10 campaign.
Competing in just the third tournament of her collegiate career, Mitchell led the Knights with her first under-par round (-1) of the year and capped off the week with an even-par 71.
"She played really solid all week, and has played that way since she has been here. She certainly hasn't played like a freshman and has played like a veteran," head coach Courtney Trimble said. "I am happy that she won the award."
Confidently leading the team in two-of-three tournaments in 2011, Trimble is impressed with Mitchell's demeanor on the course.
"She has worked on controlling her emotions a little more in each tournament, and it worked out for the best this past one," Trimble added. "She never got frustrated and stayed level throughout the tournament which was helpful to her success this week."
The Knights as a team were able to overcome a 15-stroke deficit on the final day of play to top No. 19 Ohio State, No. 33 Illinois, No. 42 Augusta State, No. 43 Iowa State and No. 45 Michigan. Their final round five-over 289 was the best of any team by nine strokes.
UCF will return to action Oct. 30 when it heads to San Antonio, Texas, for the Alamo Invitational in its final tournament of the fall.