For The University of Memphis women's golf team, learning someof the tricks and trades of the players on the Ladies ProfessionalGolf Association tour has become a routine.
Memphis head coach Sheryl Maize uses her experience andconnections to the LPGA to help her players build their skills.
"I'm actually a LPGA Class A teaching professional," Maize said."There are a lot of things over the years I have incorporated in myteaching based on what I learned at teaching seminars and being amember of the LPGA.
"Any good coach is going to look and see what the best playersare doing and try to incorporate it into a teaching and coachingplan for their players."
The Lady Tigers have adjusted to Maize's lessons to have successin the spring season. With Memphis finishing second in the PeggyKirk Bell Invitational earlier in the season and third in theLSU/Cleveland Classic last week, the Lady Tigers still find time tokeep up with the most recognizable LPGA golfer, AnnikaSorenstam.
Sorenstam agreed earlier this year to play on the ProfessionalGolf Association's The Colonial Tournament May 22-25.
Tiger junior Jennifer Jaszek said what the 43-time winner on theLPGA tour is doing is wonderful for testing how far women have comein the game of golf. However, she said she doesn't believemale/female competition should become a mainstay.
"I think it is a good opportunity for her," Jaszek said. "If sheplays well, it will prove we (women) can play with anybody. But Idon't think the tours should combine. It shouldn't be a longrunning thing. It is a good opportunity for (Sorenstam)."
Maize said the 5 foot 6 inch Sorenstam will be out there toachieve a personal ambition and not merge both tours.
"I'm excited for her to have an opportunity to go out there anddo that," Maize said. "I know it's not her goal to go out there andplay on the men's tour. I don't think it's her goal to go out thereand prove anything to anybody about women. For her it's a personalgoal to go out and play the best she can and see how it compares tothe men."
Maize said her team is preparing to test their skills againstthe best in Conference USA with the conference championshipsapproaching.
"I think we had glimpses of our true potential," Maize said."Going into conference, if we can all come together and really playas well as our potential is -- I think we can go out and winconference."
The first year coach said her team composed of seniors -- JoseyEdwards, Abby Moore and Marianne Ruud along with Jaszek, sophomoreAva Lalancette and Danielle Reilly -- have the skills to make thisseason very successful.
"I believe in our team and the talent we have right now," Maizesaid. "We have experience. We have three seniors who have been herebefore. We have Jennifer Jaszek who won a tournament in the fall.So, I feel we have done well. I think we are building momentum atthe right time and I think they'll do great at conference."
