Rhyll Brinsmead Interview
KENNESAW, Ga. – Following another successful fall campaign that concluded with four straight top 10 finishes, Kennesaw State women's golf head coach Rhyll Brinsmead is looking for more great things from the Owls this spring.
 
"We are coming off a really strong fall that was highlighted by our finish at the Palmetto Intercollegiate at the end of October where we beat three top 50 teams," says Brinsmead. "For me, I think it showed the team just how talented we are and what our expectations are for the spring."
 
KSU begins play Monday (Feb. 20) at the Amelia Island Collegiate hosted by Jacksonville University in Fernandina Beach, Fla. The Owls are looking to produce similar results to what they enjoyed the last two years when they finished second in 2015 and third in 2016.
 
"One of the things I like about this group is that if I say the practice is at 1 p.m., and I show up at 12:45 p.m., they have already been there practicing for an hour. It's the little things like that will pay off for us," Brinsmead said.
 
The Owls entered the 2016-17 season with a veteran roster that includes two seniors, a junior and three sophomores.
 
Seniors Dulcie Sverdloff and Laura Estefenn begin their final spring for the Owls. Sverdloff was second on the team in the fall with a 74.27 scoring average and two top 20 finishes, including a top 10, in five events. She finished tied for second at the Johnie Imes Invitational with a 3-under par total of 213 that included the Owls' low individual round of the fall with a 5-under par 67.
 
Estefenn brings a 76.40 scoring average into the spring. Her best outing of the fall came at the Lady Paladin Invitational where she tied for 34th.
 
The lone junior, Henriette Nielsen, rebounded from an injury-plagued sophomore season to post a 75.83 stroke average during the fall. She improved in each of her four tournaments, closing out the fall with a tie for 28th at the Palmetto Intercollegiate.
 
Sophomore Medy Thavong led the Owls during the fall with a 73.67 scoring average, three top 10 finishes and a win at the Johnie Imes Invitational. Her 36-hole score of 139 is the lowest in program history, while her 211 total is the second lowest 54-hole score on a par-72 course.
 
The Prachinburi, Thailand native win was the seventh individual tournament victory by a KSU player since the program began in 2005-06.
 
The Owls are hopeful that Clara Aveling, the reigning ASUN Conference Player of the Year and individual champion, can return to form this spring after missing the fall with an injury.
 
Brimsmead has added a new face to the roster in sophomore Maddi Caldwell. She joins the program after playing her freshman season at Western Carolina.
 
Caldwell played in all 10 of Western Carolina's tournaments a year ago, finishing third on the squad with a 77.32 stroke average. The Dawsonville, Ga. native carded 22 of 28 rounds in the 70s with a career-low 69 in the final round of the Ole Miss Rebel Intercollegiate.
 
"Madison will add depth to our already talented roster," Brinsmead said. "She brings solid experience from junior playing career as well as a stellar freshman campaign at Western Carolina. I love her energy, work ethic and passion for golf, in addition to her work in the classroom."
 
After the Amelia Island Collegiate, Kennesaw State will play four of its final five tournaments in the state of Georgia.
 
The Owls will host the Henssler Intercollegiate March 27-28 at nearby Pinetree Country Club, A strong field has been assembled, including Texas Tech, Kent State and Illinois.
 
The Owls will play for the first time in the Hawkeye-El Tigre Invitational hosted by Iowa April 2-4 in Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico.
 
Brinsmead said she and her team have lofty goals for the spring.
 
"Our goal is to win the ASUN championship for the third time and advance to the postseason, post our highest regional finish and advance to the national championship," Brinsmead said.
 
The ASUN Conference Championship is April 16-18 at the Legends Course at Chateau Elan in Braselton, Ga. The Owls will be looking to claim their second title in the last three seasons, and third in program history.
 
The NCAA Regionals are May 8-10 at selected sites, and the NCAA Championships are slated for May 19-24 in Sugar Grove, Ill.
 
To keep up with the latest Kennesaw State women's golf news follow the team on Twitter @KSUOwlNation and @KSUOwlsWmnsGolf or by liking Kennesaw State University on Facebook.
 
 

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