KELLY WILL MAKE US COLLEGE
COMEBACK, THANKS TO
COACH COLETTE MURRAY
By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Former Scottish girls Under-18 and Under-21 champion Kelly Brotherton from Tulliallan, one of Britain’s brightest female golfing prospect in her teens, will make a comeback on the American women’s college circuit next August.
Kelly was only 16 when she won the Under-21 title at Baberton in 2002 - younger than such names as Catriona Matthew, Janice Moodie and Mhairi McKay had been when they won it (Kelly is pictured right after winning the trophies in 2002).
But Miss Brotherton did not come even close to playing to her potential with Colorado University in 2005-2006 when she lost confidence and her form slumped.
But Colette Murray did not write her off. She felt that if she could get her fellow Scot under her wing, she could rekindle that magic spark.
So, during last summer Colette, born in Leith and brought up in Dumfries, persuaded Kelly to transfer to the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga where Miss Murray was appointed women’s golf head coach about a year ago with the task of reviving a programme that had been dormant for more than a decade.
“Our new team won’t start playing competitively until the autumn of 2007 but I told Kelly that she could come to Tennessee-Chattanooga right away. A year out from all competition was the best thing for Kelly because her confidence was low.
FIGHTING SPIRIT
“This past term at Chattanooga has been good for her academically, and good in the way that she has that fighting spirit to win growing inside her again. She practises hard every week and she will be in my team as a sophomore (second year) student from next autumn,” said Colette.
“Kelly is a great girl, hard working and keen to learn. She is a solid foundation for what we are building and I’m so glad that she is part of what we are doing, and that I can be a part of what she would like to do!
“I am itching to get started again with a college team on the American circuit. I am sure it’s going to be worth the wait!”
Colette herself played the American women’s college circuit for four years as a student at Jacksonville State University, Alabama.
She stayed on to become a member of the JSU women’s team back-up and coaching staff and created such a good impression that she was head-hunted by Tennessee-Chattanooga to restart their women’s golf programme.
TALENT SPOTTING
Colette flew over on a talent-spotting mission to watch The Duke of York Young Champions’ Trophy tournament at Dundonald, in September and has signed up two of the Continental players she watched there – Christine Wolf from Austria and Moa Duff from Sweden.
Christine is currently the No 3 player in the Austrian women’s rankings while Moa has made appearances on the Swedish Ladies Pro Tour.
Miss Murray’s other signings for the team that won’t play until August at the earliest are Kayla Stewart, who has transferred from the University of Memphis, and Emma de Groot, one of the top-ranked juniors in Australia.
“I believe this team of young ladies will have an immediate impact on the American college golf circuit and be a strong contender in the Southern Conference title,” said Colette.
+Colette Murray is still looking for short and long-term additions to the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga women’s golf squad. If you have a low handicap and are in your teens, you can contact her at Colette-Murray@utc.edu
COMEBACK, THANKS TO
COACH COLETTE MURRAY
By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Former Scottish girls Under-18 and Under-21 champion Kelly Brotherton from Tulliallan, one of Britain’s brightest female golfing prospect in her teens, will make a comeback on the American women’s college circuit next August.
Kelly was only 16 when she won the Under-21 title at Baberton in 2002 - younger than such names as Catriona Matthew, Janice Moodie and Mhairi McKay had been when they won it (Kelly is pictured right after winning the trophies in 2002).
But Miss Brotherton did not come even close to playing to her potential with Colorado University in 2005-2006 when she lost confidence and her form slumped.
But Colette Murray did not write her off. She felt that if she could get her fellow Scot under her wing, she could rekindle that magic spark.
So, during last summer Colette, born in Leith and brought up in Dumfries, persuaded Kelly to transfer to the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga where Miss Murray was appointed women’s golf head coach about a year ago with the task of reviving a programme that had been dormant for more than a decade.
“Our new team won’t start playing competitively until the autumn of 2007 but I told Kelly that she could come to Tennessee-Chattanooga right away. A year out from all competition was the best thing for Kelly because her confidence was low.
FIGHTING SPIRIT
“This past term at Chattanooga has been good for her academically, and good in the way that she has that fighting spirit to win growing inside her again. She practises hard every week and she will be in my team as a sophomore (second year) student from next autumn,” said Colette.
“Kelly is a great girl, hard working and keen to learn. She is a solid foundation for what we are building and I’m so glad that she is part of what we are doing, and that I can be a part of what she would like to do!
“I am itching to get started again with a college team on the American circuit. I am sure it’s going to be worth the wait!”
Colette herself played the American women’s college circuit for four years as a student at Jacksonville State University, Alabama.
She stayed on to become a member of the JSU women’s team back-up and coaching staff and created such a good impression that she was head-hunted by Tennessee-Chattanooga to restart their women’s golf programme.
TALENT SPOTTING
Colette flew over on a talent-spotting mission to watch The Duke of York Young Champions’ Trophy tournament at Dundonald, in September and has signed up two of the Continental players she watched there – Christine Wolf from Austria and Moa Duff from Sweden.
Christine is currently the No 3 player in the Austrian women’s rankings while Moa has made appearances on the Swedish Ladies Pro Tour.
Miss Murray’s other signings for the team that won’t play until August at the earliest are Kayla Stewart, who has transferred from the University of Memphis, and Emma de Groot, one of the top-ranked juniors in Australia.
“I believe this team of young ladies will have an immediate impact on the American college golf circuit and be a strong contender in the Southern Conference title,” said Colette.
+Colette Murray is still looking for short and long-term additions to the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga women’s golf squad. If you have a low handicap and are in your teens, you can contact her at Colette-Murray@utc.edu
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home