Cougars'
French remains focused
By: Brian Hiro - Staff Writer
San Marcos–The mental strain was weighing on Jennell French
like a grand piano strapped to her back.
It was hard enough on the Cal State San Marcos senior that she
entered her final college tournament, this week's NAIA Women's
Golf National Championships, as one of the favorites to take
home the individual trophy.
Add in the twist that the tournament is being held at Lake San
Marcos Country Club -- the course that the Cougars know like
the back of their hands and thus should be expected to master
-- and French was a borderline basket case during her first nine
holes of Tuesday's opening round.
After starting with a birdie on No. 10, she shot over par
on seven of the next eight holes, including an unsightly triple-bogey
on the par-3 17th.
"She was putting so much pressure on herself," Cal State San Marcos
coach Fred Hanover said.
Added French: "I lost my mind a little bit. It means getting
out of focus, not putting your blinders on and thinking about
the game."
Since then, French has displayed near-perfect tunnel vision,
showing why she will leave school this month as the most decorated
golfer -- male or female -- in the program's nine-year history.
The Oceanside High product recovered from her early missteps
to fire a 2-over 37 on the front nine Tuesday, then gave herself
a nice 22nd birthday present by carding a 5-over 77 on Wednesday.
She was on track for a 74, which would have been one of the
lowest scores of the event, before an out-of-bounds shot on
No. 18 led to a triple-bogey finish.
"That kind of hurts the score," French said with a wry smile. "But
I feel like I can come from behind because I'm a finishing player. In the end,
when it comes down to it, I'm going to play lights out."
Oklahoma City and British Columbia are tied for the lead after
two days, with Cal State San Marcos in ninth place, 19 shots
back. Bethel College's Shanna Page is the individual leader
with a two-round total of 3-over-par.
Hanover would expect nothing less from a player who won three
tournaments this year -- most recently the Region II Championship
in late April, when she emerged from a playoff with fellow
Cougar Ellyse Siu -- and four in her career. No other Cal State
San Marcos golfer has captured more than one tournament.
"Winning four times is really special because it's so difficult," Hanover
said. "I've had so many good players who never won a college tournament.
It's going to be a tough record to break."
After witnessing the benefit that struggling teammate Kate
Hansen derived from going to a sports psychologist, French
too decided to visit Erica Howard, and the sessions have helped
her curb negative thoughts on the course. French is also a
dedicated student who will graduate in four years -- that's
a rarity among Hanover's golfers, who are forced to miss numerous
classes because of travel -- and a meticulous planner.
"Her time management skills are unparalleled for a college student," Hanover
said. "She plans out her free time. Who does that?"
This summer, French plans to move to Philadelphia to live with
her boyfriend and, for the first time, concentrate exclusively
on golf. She hopes to improve to the point where she can qualify
for the Futures Tour -- the circuit below the LPGA -- in November.
"When I'm totally done with school and have nothing else to think about
and can put the dedication into golf that I've been splitting with school," French
said, "I think it's going to turn out pretty good."
-- Contact staff writer Brian Hiro at b_hiro@hotmail.com.
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