BOAZ, Ala. – The Snead State Community College Women's Golf team will begin its season Feb. 19 at Rock Creek Golf Course in Fairhope, hosted by conference foe Southern Union State Community College.
Since the program's inception six years ago, Lady Parsons golf teams have qualified for the NJCAA Division I National Championship tournament four times. But this year, championship aspirations will be put on hold.
With only three team members, by rule the Lady Parsons cannot qualify for the national championship tournament as a team but only individuals.
In leu of the situation, Snead State head coach Shane Marshall, who enters his fifth season leading the Lady Parsons, said the team's objective for this season is growth.
"This year, our primary goal for the ladies is simply getting better," Marshall said, "developing their game and learning to play at a high level with consistency, and becoming more knowledgeable of the game overall."
Over the course of the fall, Marshall had already seen measurable improvement, especially from freshmen Sara Kilgo and Emma Lynch.
"Both of them shot personal bests during the fall," Marshall said. "Sara, who's from Crossville, has made some major strides in a short amount of time.
"And Emma – from Arab – she's teetering on becoming an upper echelon player in the conference," he said.
The squad's only sophomore is Sydney Correll, from Gadsden. Correll is viewed as leader of the team.
"She's very smart, a fantastic person to be around," Marshall said. "She's always looking for ways to improve her game, despite being on her way to Samford University's Pharmacy School next year and likely ending her collegiate golf career."
Though few in number, Marshall said this year's team is a special one.
"This team's work ethic is probably some of the best I've ever worked with, as far as them wanting to get better," Marshall said. "They work on their game all the time and are on the course a lot.
"Probably out of my five years I've been here, they're one of the best groups I've had as far as work ethic, attitude, character. They're extremely coachable. There's no animosity. I could not have asked for a better group of girls."
Learn more about Snead State Women's Golf at www.sneadathletics.com.