Alexandra Austin
VSGA WOMEN’ S GOLFER OF THE YEAR
HOME CLUB: Springfield Golf & Country Club
QUICK TIP Don’ t let one shot affect the next, and don’ t press. That philosophy served Austin well in the final round of the VSGA Women’ s Stroke Play Championship, when she hit a ball out of bounds on a par 5 on the back nine but scrambled to save bogey. She didn’ t let one poor shot ruin her entire round.
“ The strongest part of my game is definitely the mental part,” Austin said.“ No matter if I’ m 2 under or 4 over, I just put everything behind me and focus on that shot. I don’ t step to a hole thinking,‘ You need to make a birdie here.’ You just take it one shot at a time, and everything will fall into place.”
CHAMPIONSHIP MOMENT A 2015 Radford graduate, Austin took advantage of her first winter without classes by spending it in Florida. The seeds for a strong 2016 were set in the Sunshine State.
“ I was really able to practice and play every single day,” Austin said.“ In college, it was just so cold at Radford, and we were in an indoor facility. I didn’ t get the chance to hit balls outside on grass or practice putting and chipping. I think it really helped my game, being able to play all year round.”
Austin hit the ground running in the spring, teaming with Lauren Greenlief in May to reach the semifinals at the U. S. Women’ s Amateur Four-Ball Championship. Austin credited her strong start to all of that outside offseason work.
“ That was a huge confidence booster,” she said.“ We both played really well, so I knew all of my hard work over the wintertime really had paid off. It just seemed that my swing, and everything, was clicking at that time.”
OFF THE COURSE Austin is a fitness buff who likes to spend a lot of time with friends and family when she isn’ t on the course.“ Working out is one of my biggest passions,” she said. This spring and summer will likely be her last, for a while at least, on the VSGA amateur circuit. Austin is preparing to head to LPGA Qualifying School late next summer. Until then, she’ ll participate in a lot of winter events in Florida and look to defend her title at the VSGA Women’ s Stroke Play. Her other big season goals: win the VSGA Women’ s Amateur for the first time and qualify for the U. S. Women’ s Amateur Championship.
2016 ACCOMPLISHMENTS
» Paired with Lauren Greenlief to reach the semifinals of the U. S. Women’ s Amateur Four-Ball Championship. Austin and Greenlief lost to teenagers Hailee Cooper and Kaitlyn Papp, who went on to win the championship. Austin and Greenlief won three matches after earning the No. 30 seed for match play.
» Shot a three-day 218 to win the 39th VSGA Women’ s Stroke Play Championship by five shots over runner-up Amanda Hollandsworth. After opening with a 76, Austin shot the two best rounds of the tournament( 72-70) to claim the title.
» Advanced to match play at the 91st VSGA Women’ s Amateur Championship before falling to Jessica Merrill in 20 holes in the round of 16.
» No. 1 in VSGA Women’ s Player Rankings.
» Won the 2016 Keefer Cup and placed second at the 2016 Women’ s D. C. Golf Association Championship.
vsga. org J ANUARY / F EBRUARY 2017 | V IRGINIA G OLFER 29