Hokie ClubThe Wrap-Up Blog - Thursday Morning
Well, I guess its time to wrap up this blog for the 2019 NCAA Norman Regional. It's been a lot of fun sharing the hard work of this great group of players and their coaches. A lot of Thank Yous are in order. So, let's get started.
We need to start out thanking Coach Carol Robertson and Coach Russell Abbott for their access to this team over the last week. We were a part of everything and we really appreciate it. Couldn't happen without your help.
Also, at the top, thank you to all the players. I know this is a bit redundant, but these players are not only top-notch golfers, but better people. They have embraced us and allowed us into their lives at this very important time. One side note, this program is very high-achieving academically and it's interesting to see the players sitting in an airport gate area with books and laptops open. Exams start tomorrow and I know this group will continue their outstanding work, academically, under quite unusual situations over the past few weeks.
A shout out to Maddy McVey from HokieVision, who has been chronicling this trip on video and post great content to Hokiesports.com. She was thrown a curve on Sunday and handled it and did not miss a beat. Well done, Maddy.
Thank you to all the parents, fans and others who have reached out to thank us for this blog. You are why we do it and it's good to know you are reading the content. Also, to the family and friends that were able to travel to Norman and supported this program.
Thank you to David Knachel, our Senior Director of Photography, who has been taking the raw images and creating photo galleries and other deliverable content. Also, as always, a big thanks to webmaster Damian Salas. The way we do all we do on Hokiesports.com has changed since we blogged from Austin last year and Damian has made sure it all went seamlessly. Also, a thank you to the Virginia Tech Athletics administration who allow this to happen.
It truly is a pleasure to do this blog. Sometimes, I think I enjoy it the most of all. Yesterday was a special day with the blog. While we were all a little disappointed that the team did not advance, there was true happiness that Amanda did. To see the pure joy on her face when it became official was special, especially for someone we have known for so long and we have followed as she and her teammates have put in the foundation for this remarkable program.
So, as we leave you from Oklahoma, it's time to say goodbye. Best of luck to Amanda in Fayetteville next week and in Charleston at the U.S. Women's Open Championship in Charleston at the end of the month. We know you will make all Hokies proud. Safe travels to all and until next time, Go Hokies!
The It's Been Quite an 8 Days Blog - Wednesday Night
Sorry for the tardiness of the final tournament story and this blog, but it's been a hectic last few hours. And quite an exciting last few hours at that.
First of all, it's great to congratulate Amanda Hollandsworth for her tremendous accomplishment. For the first time in program history, a Virginia Tech women's golfer will be competing in the national championship. Add that to her winning the sectional qualifier last Tuesday to make her first-ever U.S. Open appearance and it has been quite an eight day stretch for the young lady from Floyd, Virginia. (Her appearance in the U.S. Open at the end of the month will also be a program first.)
While Tech finished 11thoverall and did not advance as a team, there was plenty of joy to go around for Amanda's accomplishment. The quintessential teammate, Hollandsworth has been the heart and soul of this program before it ever set foot on a golf course and through hard-work and dedication, has earned all these accomplishments. It's easy to root for Amanda and, luckily, we get to keep on doing just that for the near future.
As for the final round, the weather that caused the twice-delayed start and the shotgun start with foursomes never returned. In fact, the day began to heat up, right about the time Amanda did. Going into her final four holes, she needed to make something happen. And she did. She birdied each of the first three holes of that stretch, which made the bogey on the final (the 7th) moot.
The waiting around for all the scores to be posted was, to be sure, taxing. Nervousness abounded, but, in the end, we got what we waited for. Her teammates even gave her a dousing from their water bottles. True joy from all the Hokies in Norman.
After that, it was time to pack up the vans and head to dinner (at a restaurant chosen by Amanda) and then to an Oklahoma City airport hotel to get some sleep before the very early morning flight to get back to Blacksburg and Reading Day. As much as this team and program takes golf seriously, the do the same with their academics. This is a team of achievers.
We'll put a bow on this tomorrow. Hand out a lot of thank yous and give some information on what is next. Until then, Go Hokies!Gallery: (5/8/2019) 2019 WOMEN'S GOLF NCAA ROUND THREE
The There's Been Another Change Blog – Wednesday Morning
We have an update from Norman. Due to the overnight storms, the shotgun start has been backed up again. The teams will now begin play at 11:30 a.m. CDT. Everything else remains the same.
We'll keep you posted on any other changes.
The Waiting on the Weather Blog – Tuesday Evening
Well, some things have changed. Let's catch up.
Since last we blogged, the second round was completed and the Hokies are now 9thoverall. Amanda Hollandsworth remains tied for fifth. That's the on-course news.
Now for the off-the-course developments. With a large storm scheduled to hit the Oklahoma City Metro area overnight, the NCAA Committee has decided to alter the final round. All competitors will now begin play with a shotgun start at 9 a.m. CDT. The competitors will begin to head out to their locations at 8:30 a.m. after warming up in the practice areas.
The other big change will be instead of the standard threesomes, the groups will be foursomes. Tech will begin on holes 8-11 and play along with TCU, NC State and the host Oklahoma Sooners. Although not unheard of, this is rare. But the committee is being proactive and trying to make sure a third round is completed. Fingers crossed on the weather and the timing of when it hits the area.
Still lots of scenarios are still in play and the committee will be up very early to monitor all that is happening. Stayed tuned to the blog, but more importantly @HokiesWGolf on Twitter for all the updates.
A few other things of interest. A new, 42-image photo gallery has been posted a little further down in this blog. Lots of looks from Round Two. Also, a video recap of the second round should be posted shortly on the HokieVision section of the main page of Hokiesports.com. Action and post-round interviews.
The team had a fun dinner at a nearby Tex-Mex restaurant and is back in the hotel for the night. This group rally has fun as a group and is great to be around.
We will update the blog if needed before tomorrow's final round. If not, we'll post an update when we get off the course tomorrow afternoon. A lot of things can happen in a final round of an NCAA Regional. Stay tuned for all the developments. Until then, Go Hokies!
The Round Two Blog – Tuesday Afternoon
The Hokies have completed the second round of the NCAA Norman Regional, and while several teams are still on the course, it appears Tech will remain in 10thplace entering the final round on Wednesday, but that could change, so stay tuned..
Individually, Amanda Hollandsworth once again shot a 2-under 70 and is currently in a tie for fifth place. We will discuss the ramifications of that at a later time. Three birdies and a bogey and the grad student from Floyd is right in the hunt. Solid and steady is perhaps the best way to describe Amanda this week.
The wind picked up a bit today and changed the way some of the holes had to be played. Tech started again on the 10thtee, so finished up with the front nine.
Take a minute to spend a little time not only on this blog, but on Hokiesports.com. Photo galleries and video are being added all the time. Another great way to keep up with the Hokies in Oklahoma.
Check in with Hokiesports.com for the Round Two story, which will be posted later this evening. And of course, @HokiesWGolf on Twitter will have more information about tee times and other things associated with tomorrow's final round.
Until then, from a wind-blown Norman, Oklahoma, we leave you with: Go Hokies!Gallery: (5/7/2019) 2019 WOMEN'S GOLF NCAA ROUND 2
The Round One Blog – Monday Afternoon
The Hokies have completed Round One at the NCAA Norman Regional. Tech, the 12thseed in the event, sits at 10thoverall in what is a very tight leaderboard.
Tech posted a 3-over 291 on Monday and are one of 12 teams within 10 strokes of the leader, Florida and one of four teams within four strokes of the top six teams. At the end of the tournament, the top six teams and top three individuals not on an advancing team will move on to the national championships in Arkansas.
Speaking of individuals, Amanda Hollandsworth continued her strong play of late, carding a 2-under 70. She is tied for sixth place and just two strokes off the lead.
After a quick meal after the round, the team went back to the practice area for more work. They will return to the hotel before heading out later tonight for dinner.
The weather was great. A bit windier than yesterday, but not too back. Just as the Hokies were making the turn, there were a few raindrops, but nothing bad. The sun came out on our second nine and it warmed up.
Overnight, the area was hit with a major thunderstorm, but the course was it good condition. More storms are expected tonight, as well.
The recap will be posted on Hokiesports.com in a few minutes and for those who want to hear from Coach Robertson and Amanda Hollandsworth, HokieVision will post a video interview of both individuals.
Stay tuned to @HokiesWGolf on Twitter for more updates. We might even have another blog post before the night is through. Go Hokies!
Gallery: (5/6/2019) 2019 WOMEN'S GOLF NCAA ROUND ONE
The Quick Update Blog - Sunday Night
Just a few quick hitters before we call it a night. The team is back at the hotel after a tremendous meal at a nearby restaurant.
- At the Administrative meeting today, the course length was clarified. A new yardage is listed for the par 5, 8thhole, at 517 yards, which is the distance the teams played today in the practice round. So, the course length is now 6,367 yards for the par 72.
- The Hokies will tee off beginning at 8:20 a.m. on Monday morning from the 10thtee. Tech is grouped with 10thseed Texas Tech and 11thseed Mississippi State and the players will tee off in 10-minute intervals.
- Live stats for the tournament are available at: http://results.golfstat.com/public/leaderboards/gsnav.cfm?pg=team&tid=17530
- For a look at the Norman, Oklahoma weather forecast for the next few days: https://weather.com/weather/tenday/l/Norman+OK+USOK0388
Now for a couple of fun facts.
- The Hokies are a well-traveled team this season. Adding the 1,096 miles from Blacksburg to Norman to the season's mileage, Tech has now covered 9,005 on the trip out to events this season.
- The five starters for the Hokies this week have started every event this season. Amanda Hollandsworth and Elizabeth Bose have played in every event in which Virginia Tech has ever competed in women's golf.
Before we go, let's give a shout out to incoming freshman Becca DiNunzio for her victory today at the Peggy Kirk Bell/LPGA Tour Pure Silk Girls Jr. Championship at Kingsmill. Had a two-day total of 4-under for the win.
The After the Practice Round Blog - Sunday Afternoon
It's a little after 2 p.m. Sunday afternoon and the Hokies have just stepped off the course from their practice round. The Jimmie Austin OU Golf Club course is really nice and should be a great test for the competitors this week.
A few observations from today. This is a course with a lot of character. Not at all a flat, wide-open layout. Very green with an interesting variety of greens. The fabled wind ("where the wind comes whistling down the plains") was not in play early in the morning, but picked up a bit in the afternoon. It will be interesting to see how the wind blows as the week unfolds.
The weather overall was quite pleasant today. Warm, but not too hot. Perfect conditions for the competing teams to learn this course.
The team grabbed a quick bite to eat and are back to the practice facility to work on their games. The coaches will have an NCAA administrative meeting at 4 p.m. CDT and then it's back to the hotel before heading out to dinner. It will be an early night, as the Hokies are back on the course at 8:20 a.m. to begin Round One of the NCAA Norman Regional. As is the norm, Jessica Spicer will be on the tee first for the Hokies (the 10thtee), as she has been all year and last year at the regionals in Austin.
We'll check in again later tonight with some fun facts and other points of interest before play begins in the morning. Until then, Go Hokies!
Gallery: (5/5/2019) 2019 WOMEN'S GOLF NCAA PRACTICE ROUND
The Travel Day Blog - Saturday
Well, here we are again. This is the first of several blog entries for the Hokies' appearance in the NCAA Norman Regional. We hope you enjoy this inside look at the program.
It was an early wake-up for all involved, as the team left Blacksburg before dawn for the trip to Roanoke to catch the first of two flights to get to Oklahoma. At 6 a.m., the Hokies caught the flight to Atlanta and then connected into Oklahoma City. It's just a short drive from the Will Rogers World Airport to the University of Oklahoma campus in Norman.
After a quick lunch, the team arrived at the Jimmie Austin OU Golf Club about 1 p.m. and immediately hit the practice area. Due to heavy rains in the area overnight and into the morning, the driving range was closed, but the chipping and putting areas are in great shape, so this will be a very beneficial practice. Not just for working on their games, but this practice time helps the team knock off the rust from the 1,000-plus mile trip to the Sooner State.
Each player has their own practices for preparing for a tournament and this day allows them some freedom to work on their games at their pace. Some spend more time on the green, others spend a lot of time chipping, others do a little of everything.
The real practice will happen on Sunday, as the Hokies and the other competitors will get their first look at the course. NCAA rules prohibit playing the course on Saturday. But first, a welcomed good night sleep.
We'll check in tomorrow after the practice round, which is scheduled to begin at 8:42 a.m. CDT. In that blog, we'll likely discuss the protocol the team uses in the practice round to learn as much about the course as possible in one day. We should also have a photo gallery and some video to share.
Until then, make sure to follow @HokiesWGolf on twitter for more insight into the team and the trip. Go Hokies!