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