By Austin Badzik (@austinbadzik15):
After the Spartans’ golf team lost one of it’s greatest players in My Leander last season, all eyes are on Abegail Arevalo.
Coming into the season, there are high expectations, for her and the rest of the team to step up.
The team can no longer rely on Leander to shoot a casual 67 and carry the team to victory. However they will need Arevalo to put up very similar numbers if the team wants to be competitive.
“I do feel the pressure,” Arevalo said. “I really love the pressure and I am embracing the challenge.”
Arevalo is no stranger to playing at an elite level. In 2016, she was second-team All Mountain West, with a dazzling stroke average of 74.23.
Arevalo picked up right where she left off, as she has gotten off to a scorching start to the season, finishing second overall in the Colorado Wollenberg Ram Classic.
The star player from the Philippines started out strong and has only got better.
She was the team’s leading scorer through the first two rounds, and in the final round she put up a career-best five-under 67.
Arevalo was on fire in the final day of the tournament; –– racking up four birdies, and an eagle in her final round. Arevalo also led all par 3 scoring as she finished 5 under.
However, she still wasn’t satisfied.
“It was really fun, but it wasn’t good enough.” Arevalo said. “I’m happy with how I played, but I couldn’t be happy because my teammates struggled, and I know we can do way better and win the tournament.”
Arevalo’s performance was the best of her career. She finished the final round shooting a 67, with a score of 5 under.
“I think what’s really helped her the most is strength and conditioning,” coach John Dormann said. “Getting in the weight room, she has gotten a lot stronger. she is hitting the ball further, shes playing with a confidence she didn’t have when she was younger.”
It’s clear that over the past year, Arevalo has taken that next step in her golf career. Arevalo looks to keep adding to her game and make that leap to the pro’s.
“I am looking forward to turn pro,” Arevalo said. “I am going to try out in Asia first, and then if that works out I am going back to the U.S and try for a school LPGA.”
The young star has put all of the pieces together as her future looks to be very promising. She hopes to bring a new spark to the school’s golf program and continue her exceptional start to the season, after putting up her best career numbers in the first tournament in the season.
