An Amazing Start to a Promising Future
12/7/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
Dec. 7, 2004
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Arizona and Michigan are worlds apart both in temperature and distance. Freshman Sara Brown traveled that distance to join the MSU women's golf team, leaving behind her parents and her older brother.
"At first my parents were apprehensive about me going to a school so far away, but once they were able to get to know coach they became more comfortable with it," said Brown on her decision to attend MSU.
Even though being away from her parents has been hard, Brown has a brother near that can come visit her and offer support. Her brother, Josh, is a junior golfer at Bradley University and a big influence on Brown's golf career.
"My brother is in Illinois and he comes to visit, he has always given me a great deal of support so it's extremely helpful," said Brown on her big brother.
That support paid off at an early age, when he convinced her to begin her golf career.
"My brother started golfing when he was three and he constantly begged me to join him, but that was his thing and I didn't really want to get involved."
When Brown finally took her big brothers advice it paid off immensely. It was this advice that got her to pick up a golf club at age 8 and compete in her first tournament.
"When I won my first tournament ever at age 8, I started to think that maybe I could really enjoy this sport," said Brown on her decision to play golf.
One change that did not have as big of an effect on Brown though was the temperature change. With average winter temperatures in Arizona around 65, nearly 37 degrees warmer than in Michigan, it can be a bothersome change to anyone but Brown did not seem to mind.
"The cold doesn't really bother me, I just add more layers of clothing," said Brown.
The temperature hasn't effected her game very much either.
"Back home, I always took a break from November to December, so it's not a lot different now that we take a break for winter, and the indoor facility is awesome, so that helps," said Brown on the winter break in between golf seasons.
Putting life changes aside, the talents and past honors Brown brought to Michigan State are extremely impressive. As a four-year letterwinner and a four-year all-state and all-city first team honoree at Salpointe Catholic High School, she was selected as the 5A Southern Arizona Player of the Year three times. She was also selected as the 2001 Arizona Junior Golf Player of the Year as well as the 2002 PGA Junior Series Player of the Year. With the help of her schoolmates and teachers, juggling all of this with school was made possible.
"I went to a Catholic school and everyone knew I played golf. They were all supportive and it was nice because if I had to miss school for something they would allow me to make it up," said Brown on her old high school.
Once at MSU, Brown felt welcomed with open arms by her teammates. A great deal of this help adjusting came from the "big sis" freshmen receive when they join the team. The older sis's are meant to act as mentors and are an older supportive figure.
"The whole team made the adjustment as a freshman so easy, Rachel Meikle is my `older sister' on the team and with her support it has been great," commented Brown.
Even with this easy adjustment though, Brown had some challenges on the course. Starting out the fall season, Brown finished the Lady Northern Tournament with a 17th place finish. This was great start but when Brown dropped to a 24th and 65th place finish consecutively in the Mary Fossum Tournament and Mercedes-Benz Tournament she began to feel she was not making progress.
"Personally, I began to feel that I was not improving throughout the season. But with the support of the team and their positive attitudes I didn't let it get me down," said Brown on her fall season.
Brown definitely did not let these challenges get her down as she finished off her fall season spectacularly. At the Lady Paladin Invitational, she came through with a ninth- place finish that helped her team secure a tie for seventh. As she reflected on this finish though, she still felt she could have done better and this is a goal she has for next season. Brown will be able to put this goal into action starting Feb. 7 when the Spartans travel to Los Angeles to compete in the Northrop Grumman Invitational.
"I still feel like I could have finished better but now I have another goal to look forward to for next season. I really want a top five finish or a win. Also, I really wanted to be Big 10 Freshmen of the Year," said Brown.
She will be given a chance at winning this prestigious award for freshmen at the Big Ten Championship in Ann Arbor, Mich., April 22-24.
Looking back on this fall season though, Brown has many more successes and fond memories than anything else.
"I love the car rides to tournaments, they are awesome bonding experiences. And I love to room with Rachel. We always stay up late and talk," said Brown reflecting on some of her favorite time spent with teammates.
Along with the fun she has with the team, Brown enjoys spending time with the girls on her floor, watching movies and talking. And if all else fails or Brown becomes frustrated with her golf game, there is always the mall.
"Whenever I have a frustrating game, or I just don't feel like I am playing up to my ability I have this bad habit of releasing stress by shopping," commented Brown.
With the success she has had thus far, it doesn't look like it will take too many shopping trips to get Brown to her next goal, the LPGAs, just another world apart from her life here at MSU.
Written by Ashley Thomsen,MSU Sports Information
Players Mentioned
