Women's golf team set to compete for national title

The Eastern Florida State College women's golf team will compete for a national title next week at Buffalo Dunes Golf Course in Garden City, Kansas.

The Titans finished second in the NJCAA Division I Women's Southeast District Championship to qualify for the NJCAA Division I National Tournament which begins Monday, May 12. The second-place finish is the second time in three seasons the Titans have finished second at the regional tournament.

"I think we bring that confidence into the national tournament. We played consistently and I think if we do that, we will be fine," sophomore Emma Parker said.

The tournament is back in Kansas where the Titans placed eighth overall in 2023 at Buffalo Dunes.

"It is a good golf course, at the end of the week the best golf team will be the winner. The issue for us is the grass. It is a softer grass, it's blue grass and bent. It will be an adjustment for the ladies," Eastern Florida State College women's golf coach Jamie Howell said. "The golf course has some elevation change, some ups and downs so it will be a matter of learning as much as we can without overdoing it and just go out and play. If we play like we can, it will be interesting to see how it plays out."

The tournament will be four days of competition with the team playing 18 holes each day in a field of 16 teams. Defending national champion Daytona State College is one of the favorites after winning the district championship.

"It is going to be a lot of golf so we have to try to just go out and enjoy it. It is our last tournament of the year together and my last tournament at EFSC so we just want to enjoy our time together," sophomore Jenna Barnett said. "Really just need to pay attention to how different the course and things are and really listen to coach on the best way to get around the course."

Barnett tied for third in the district tournament and is one of three players returning to the national tournament for the second straight season. The Titans placed eighth last season in the national tournament at Duran Golf Club.

"I don't have expectations, go out and represent the school like you have done all season. Just go out and enjoy this because you may not get to play for a national title again," Howell said. "You have earned this so go out and have fun."

The final round of the tournament will be on Thursday, May 15.