OXFORD, Miss. – After a productive fall season, the Ole Miss women’s golf team is underway with their spring campaign at the 2015 Hurricane Invitational hosted by the University of Miami at the Biltmore in Coral Gables, Florida, this week.
Veteran head coach Michele Drinkard has been ready to get the spring season started for some time now, and is excited her Rebels are finally on the course playing competitive golf.
“The team has worked really hard in the offseason, working on the areas we need to improve,” Drinkard said. “One of those things is being prepared to play from the first tee to the last shot on the 18th hole, and I am really excited to watch them play.”
Seniors Taelor Rubin and Stani Schiavone, who appeared in all but one tournament a season ago, look to provide leadership to the three juniors, two sophomores and freshman that fill out the rest of the Ole Miss roster.
“Stani and Taelor have been our rocks, and I know this semester that they’ll shine,” Drinkard said. “They’re excited about leaving a legacy here at Ole Miss and everyday they are talking to the team about expectations and reminding them of the process.”
There’s also a new look to the Rebel locker room, and that’s the addition of assistant coach Hayley Wilkinson. Wilkinson comes to Oxford from Queensland, Australia where she was the Director of Golf at the Queensland School of Golf for two years.
The former All-Big West selection at Long Beach State will bring head coaching experience to the Ole Miss staff.
“Hayley came in with the background above any normal assistants level,” Drinkard said. “In working with the Australian National team she’s already seen the ups and downs of working in athletics and playing the game, and having her has been very helpful.”
Scoring for the Hurricane Invitational can be found here, and a full event recap will be available after competition is complete on OleMissSports.com.
This spring Ole Miss will travel to Mesa, Arizona for the Notre Dame Clover Cup; Hoover, Alabama for the Samford Intercollegiate and will host the 2015 Rebel Intercollegiate.
Connor Hennessey is a writer in Oxford, Miss. and works in the Ole Miss Athletics media relations office. This story was first featured on OleMissSports.com. He can be reached by email at cmhennes@go.olemiss.edu or @ConnorUM on Twitter.
