Keating, Buffs Set For Pac-12 Championships

BOULDER — Alexis Keating's golf game is rounding into shape at just the right time.

In her last three tournaments, the Colorado senior has improved in each event. She's moved up from a top-50 to a top-40 to a top-30 finish, and in each tournament, she's shaved strokes from her total, with her last effort a 6-over par 222 at the Arizona State Invitational.

Next up: the Pac-12 Championships, to be contested next Monday through Wednesday at Ruby Hill Golf Club in Pleasanton, Calif. It's a stage that's set for success for Keating.

A year ago, Keating enjoyed perhaps her finest moment thus far as a CU golfer at the 2015 Pac-12 Championships. Playing in her own backyard at Boulder Country Club, Keating fired a final-round 66 — then a CU record — to finish with a 210 total and a tie for fifth. That also vaulted the Buffs into a fifth-place finish in the team standings, CU's best-ever placing in a conference tournament.

“No doubt, that's a confidence boost for me,” Keating said earlier this week. “I know I can shoot those scores in the Pac-12 Conference tournament on a course that's set up for that play and against the top teams in the country. When you know you can shoot those scores in that type of situation, it's definitely a confidence booster.”

But Keating has more than just last year's finish to bolster her faith in her game. She's had a consistent year, currently sitting second on the team in stroke average (74.69) with four top-20 finishes and three of the Buffs' top 10 rounds of the season.

“It's been a good year,” Keating said. “I've had some solid rounds and I'm feeling pretty consistent. There are always going to be those rounds where you are a bit disappointed, and whether you shot really well or shot really poorly, there's always something you look back on and think there's something you need to improve on.

“But for me, it's always looking forward and seeing what I can improve on personally and what I can do to help my team.”

CU coach Anne Kelly has definitely seen improvement in Keating since she first recruited her out of Elma, Wash., four years ago.

“She's really matured,” Kelly said. “She's become a very intelligent golfer. She knows when to go for pins and when not to. Her wedge game has improved a ton and her short game has improved.

“She just becoming more of a professional at it. She can look at a golf course and determine where she needs to hit the ball and why. She's made big, big strides since her freshman year.”

Last season, CU's finish in the Pac-12 tournament was enough to earn the Buffs a berth in the NCAA Regional in St. George, Utah. They would obviously like to replicate that feat this year.

“I think we showed last year when we hosted the Pac-12 tournament that this team is one that can contend with the top teams in the nation,” Keating said. “Our goals are not to be in the top half; we want to take this head on and find success. With that, going to regionals and going on to nationals is a goal of every single person on this team, and every single person wholeheartedly believes that's not out of our reach to accomplish.”

Keating has played Ruby Hill several times in the past, and she believes it's a course suited to the Buffs' talents.

“She's definitely shown she's capable of shooting a low round under a lot of pressure,” Kelly said. “I think the thing she has to be careful about is saying, 'Oh, this is my last Pac-12 and I have to make it a great one.' She has to make sure she's staying in the present, playing it a shot at a time and just playing the round. If she stays focused on what's at hand, she can play really well.”

Keating said she's aware of such possible pitfalls.

“What I've been trying to stress to myself is that golf will continue for me and it's not going to be my last tournament or my last shot at a title,” Keating said. “For me, it's keeping the mindset that I've had for my entire career here. Take in every opportunity that I'm given and be grateful for all the opportunities I've had. If you think about it being your last college tournament, or your last chance, you put too much pressure on yourself. I just look at it as another chance to play in another field of amazing golfers on a beautiful course with awesome people.”

If the Buffs play up to their abilities, they have the chance to equal last year's performance. But Kelly admits it has been a “yo-yo” spring for her team, with some excellent performances and some difficult outings.

“The thing we do know is that they are all very good golfers,” Kelly said. “We've learned from our successes and we've learned from the tournaments we didn't play well. I think we'll be ready to go.”

The Buffs will no doubt be counting on a big tournament from Esther Lee, a first-team all-Pac-12 performer a year ago and the owner of three top-five and six top-10 finishes this season. Other key performers will be Brittany Fan (one top-five and two top-10 finishes) and Natalie Vivaldi.

“I think we're all excited,” Keating said. “We know we can compete at the top level and we know what we have to do.”

Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu