Julie Williams

3 weeks ago | sports.yahoo.com | Julie Williams

In the Northeast, the National Invitational Tournament – the annual men’s college basketball tournament for Division I teams that do not qualify for the NCAA tournament – truly resonates. That’s especially true for a guy like Gregg Burke, head men’s golf coach at Rhode Island. Burke, who grew up as a Providence College and Holy Cross basketball fan (and attended the latter school), recognizes that any comparison to the NIT will be received in an enormous way. And now he’s living it.

3 weeks ago | golfweek.usatoday.com | Julie Williams

Despite growing up in Fort Pierce, Florida, Angelica Holman came to the desert this week and something about Ak-Chin Southern Dunes in Maricopa, Arizona, just seemed right to her. “It wasn’t easy – I wouldn’t say it was ever easy – it just suited my eye,” said Holman, the Eastern Michigan junior who led wire-to-wire on her way to the individual title at the National Golf Invitational. For Holman, this week marked a major breakthrough.

3 weeks ago | golfweek.usatoday.com | Julie Williams

For a coach trying to grow a women’s golf program, having a full dance card in May is an excellent sign of progress. Last week, Eastern Michigan sophomore Savannah de Bock became the first player in program history to compete in an NCAA postseason event (though she fell short of advancing out of her NCAA Regional). Two days later, the rest of her team teed it up at the National Golf Invitational.

3 weeks ago | sports.yahoo.com | Julie Williams

For a coach trying to grow a women’s golf program, having a full dance card in May is an excellent sign of progress. Last week, Eastern Michigan sophomore Savannah de Bock became the first player in program history to compete in an NCAA postseason event (though she fell short of advancing out of her NCAA Regional). Two days later, the rest of her team teed it up at the National Golf Invitational.

4 weeks ago | golfweek.usatoday.com | Julie Williams

In the postseason – or perhaps in the days and weeks leading up to it – some coaches may be tempted to make sweeping changes in the name of readiness. Krystal Kelly is not that person. The veteran Santa Clara women’s golf coach has learned from those around her, particularly longtime Santa Clara head women’s soccer coach, Jerry Smith. One thing about Smith’s view of the postseason resonated.