Molly English said the women’s golf team has a good shot at winning their first tournament.

English, a senior golfer, competed in all 13 tournaments last year and said this year could be the team’s best season yet.

The team has four players returning this year who were consistently earning top-five finishes at competition, but the focus of the team is not on individual players.

“We are more looking out for the team rather than the individual,” English said.

During practice she said each player is rooting for each other.

The team had a good ending last season, but junior Kori Jacobsen said they let it slip a little in the end.

“We played pretty well,” she said. “We could have finished better.”

Jacobsen said she hopes to see the team win conference this year and then move on to nationals.

The team placed third last year in the GLVC Championships.

The team then moved on to the NCAA II Super Regional where the top three teams and top three individuals are advanced on to the NCAA II Championship.

The team placed seventh at the NCAA II Championship which cut short their advancement.

Jacobsen said the first tournament is the team’s chance to put up some good numbers and show everyone what they can do.

This year the University of Indianapolis will host their tournament Sept. 14 through 15, which directly conflicts with USI’s  13 through 14.

The conflict should not have too large of an effect on the women’s golf team, but they have lost one participant, Drury University, to the other tournament.

English said she’d like to see the team win at least two tournaments this fall to set them up for the spring season, where she hopes to see them win nationals.

She said the main goal is for the team to remember there are 20 holes to play, English said.

“The main goal is to stay focused,” English said, “and not to let a bad hole get to you.”