April 4, 2018
By Zac Ellis
VUCommodores.com
NASHVILLE – The Vanderbilt women’s golf team is one of the youngest teams in collegiate golf, boasting three freshmen in its starting lineup in Morgan Baxendale, Virginia Green and Louise Yu.
But in terms of quality time together, that Commodore trio already feels more like a group of seasoned veterans.
“We ride to practice together, we eat meals together, we have class together,” Yu said. “For the three of us, our relationship has grown so much that we’re just comfortable around each other.”
That comfort has translated onto the golf course for the 24th-ranked Commodores. Baxendale, Green and Yu have become mainstays in Vanderbilt’s past two tournaments, the Darius Rucker Invitational and the Clemson Invitational. The Dores currently boast more freshmen in their starting lineup than any other SEC team. In fact, only two schools in the country (Kansas State and Seattle University) start more true freshmen than Vanderbilt.
Vanderbilt coach Greg Allen said this is the youngest of the 11 teams he’s coached with the Commodores.
“There’s no question,” Allen said. “I don’t know that we’ve ever had three [freshmen] consistently in the lineup like we have right now.”
That splash of youth has paid off for the Dores. Vanderbilt’s 73.95 freshman stroke average ranks first nationally among the 12 teams playing at least three true freshmen. Moreover, GolfStat.com ranks the Commodores No. 1 nationally in “relative strength” of their freshmen class.
“They all bring different things to the team, but their attitudes and work ethic are phenomenal,” Allen continued.” Morgan might have the best stroke average of the three right now. Louise has been in and out of the lineup, but she’s capable of making a lot of birdies and going low for us. Virginia has been in the lineup all but one time and was our low finisher to start the spring season.”
Teamed alongside sophomore Abbey Carlson and junior Courtney Zeng in the starting lineup, Baxendale, Green and Yu have helped the Commodores find their groove this spring. Vanderbilt heads to the Brickyard Collegiate in Macon, Ga. this weekend fresh of its best team finish of 2018. It used a barrage of final-round birdies to rally and finish fourth out of 15 teams at the Clemson Invitational on March 25. Green and Yu carded birdies on the par-4 18th hole to cap Vandy’s comeback.
In all, the Commodores’ team score of 862 (-2) marked a 41-stroke improvement over their finish at last year’s Clemson Invitational. Moreover, the Dores bounced back from a disappointing 11th-place finished at the Darius Rucker Intercollegiate on March 4.
“The Darius was when we said to ourselves, we’ve got to stop getting frustrated,” Yu said. “Clemson was when we finally realized we’re playing for this team. We’ve got to finish strong no matter where we are on the leaderboard.”
The common thread over Vanderbilt’s last few weeks? Chemistry.
“I feel really good about the way we’re playing as a team,” Green said. “The chemistry and the support system from our coaches have really showed in the way we finished at Clemson.”
Added Baxendale: “Every since the Darius, we’ve put in a ton of time on the course, and it’s paying off. We’re with each other so much that we build off each other. The chemistry is unbelievable, and I think that’s why we’ve been playing so well.”
Vanderbilt hopes for a snowball effect as it heads to Macon this weekend. After that, it’s on to Birmingham, Ala. for the SEC Championship April 18-22 at Greystone Golf and Country Club.
No matter how the Commodores’ season unfolds, their freshmen are poised to make an impact the rest of the way – and well into the future.
“I can’t wait for the rest of this season,” Yu said. “I’m excited to see what we can do at SECs and beyond.”
Zac Ellis is the Writer and Digital Media Editor for Vanderbilt Athletics.
