By Meredith Majakey
The BYU women''s golf team is back in swing and ready for the season to get back on track in February.
Head coach Sue Nyhus said the players are practicing hard and are excited for their next tournament.
'We are gearing up to improve ourselves,' Nyhus said.
Mike Smith, a former Cougar golfer from St. George and one of the top 100 teaching pros in the country, has been helping team members with their individual game and weaknesses.
'He came up last week and helped us out tremendously,' Nyhus said.
Golfer Sarah Bridges said she was grateful for the help of Mike Smith in improving her game.
'He is so knowledgeable and such a great teacher,' Bridges said. 'He helped me with my swing and also with what I should think about when I''m on the course, such as how to stay calm and focused.'
Another mid-season technique for the Cougars has been to have a dart trainer come in and analyze each player''s swing.
'It''s uses digital camera work on a computer and is a skill analysis program to see movements that can help the golfers improve,' Nyhus said.
Besides a rigorous workout three times a week, the team is also learning about sports psychology from Dr. Ron Chamberlain, men and women athletes sports psychologist.
'Everybody is making improvements the area they need to make improvements in,' Nyhus said. 'I see a bright future for us.'
The BYU women''s golf team also signed on three new recruits for the fall 2002 season.
A current press release stated that Danielle von Arnim of Bogota, Colombia, Symantha Mendenhall of Phoenix, Ariz. and Audrey Brownell from Avon Park, Florida have all signed letters of intent to play at BYU.
Nyhus said she was thrilled to have these new golfers on the team.
'It''s a very balanced class with tremendous talent that will come in and compete for a spot among our starting five,' Nyhus said. 'These girls will compliment our talented core of returning players next year.'
Bridges said she is looking forward to getting to know the new golfers that will come to the team in 2002.
'I think they will be a great asset to the team,' Bridges said.
The Cougars will find out how effective their off season training has been when they go to San Diego, Calf. on Feb. 17-19 to compete in the Lady Aztec Invitational, hosted by San Diego State University.