Colorado University Athletics
Sophomore Alisha Lau at the UA Wildcat Invitational
Photo by: Michael Christy, Arizona Athletics
Taking A Mulligan On A Lost Season
April 10, 2020 | Women's Golf
BOULDER - Athletes are no strangers to injuries, yet the commonality of them never makes it easy to handle.
Alisha Lau began her golf career for the University of Colorado in the fall of 2017. Right from the start, she made her presence known. At, what she describes as, the pinnacle of her college golf career, Lau was a starter and the only freshman to travel with her team during the 2017-2018 season, and she became the first freshman to compete at the national championship for the Buffaloes.
During the season, she set the freshman record for most rounds played (37), which was also tied for the fourth-most in school history. Lau's 76.97 stroke average was fourth on the team.
However, Lau's entire outlook changed when she was told she'd have to sit out her entire sophomore season due to a wrist injury.
Prior to her injury, Lau felt she was finally beginning to understand where her golf game was going and what she needed to do in order to improve and contribute even more to her team.
"To hear that I had that injury and that I needed surgery, was really heartbreaking," she said. "I remember crying when the doctor told me about it."
Lau wasn't the only one affected by this news. Colorado head coach Anne Kelly said, "I was very, very disappointed for Alisha and our team. It is very hard not to have a player of her ability and experience sit out."
Kelly understood the pain that Lau played through her freshman year, and knew this relief and treatment was necessary. When asked about how it felt competing without Lau during the 2018-19 season, teammate Kirsty Hodgkins said, "It definitely felt like a part of the team was missing. We struggled that year. Alisha is a strong player who definitely could've helped us compete against the stronger teams."
In high school, Lau faced multiple injuries but was still able to be involved in athletics through other avenues. Now in college, golf is a top priority in her life, so she really had to push herself to get involved in other ways in order to get her mind off of not competing.
Now that she made her way back on the course, practicing and competing, Lau continues to struggle with her wrist day-to-day but is working on keeping it healthy through rehab. In her first season back, she faced the pressures of her own expectations for herself and learned to work step by step to get back to the competitive level she desires.
"I'm making sure that I'm trying my best and trying to put the best foot forward," Lau said. She shared that she kept her motivations high by being grateful to be back out there because a year ago she wasn't able to have that opportunity.
Her team also enjoyed her presence back as well.
"Alisha is a player you can rely on and knowing that Alisha is in the lineup, it takes a bit of pressure off because she is such a consistently strong performer," Hodgkins said.
As a redshirt sophomore, Lau recorded a team-best five top-20 finishes in seven events, which included a tie for ninth at the Molly Collegiate Invitational, Sept. 30-Oct. 1, in Portland, Ore. Her 73.62 stroke average was second on the team, putting her as the No. 2 behind Hodgkins.
Even though the season was cut short, it was still great to have Lau back.
"She is a leader and adds a lot of personality to our team along with her excellent golf game," Kelly said. "She is competitive and determined and a team needs players like her to be successful."
Alisha Lau began her golf career for the University of Colorado in the fall of 2017. Right from the start, she made her presence known. At, what she describes as, the pinnacle of her college golf career, Lau was a starter and the only freshman to travel with her team during the 2017-2018 season, and she became the first freshman to compete at the national championship for the Buffaloes.
During the season, she set the freshman record for most rounds played (37), which was also tied for the fourth-most in school history. Lau's 76.97 stroke average was fourth on the team.
However, Lau's entire outlook changed when she was told she'd have to sit out her entire sophomore season due to a wrist injury.
Prior to her injury, Lau felt she was finally beginning to understand where her golf game was going and what she needed to do in order to improve and contribute even more to her team.
"To hear that I had that injury and that I needed surgery, was really heartbreaking," she said. "I remember crying when the doctor told me about it."
Lau wasn't the only one affected by this news. Colorado head coach Anne Kelly said, "I was very, very disappointed for Alisha and our team. It is very hard not to have a player of her ability and experience sit out."
Kelly understood the pain that Lau played through her freshman year, and knew this relief and treatment was necessary. When asked about how it felt competing without Lau during the 2018-19 season, teammate Kirsty Hodgkins said, "It definitely felt like a part of the team was missing. We struggled that year. Alisha is a strong player who definitely could've helped us compete against the stronger teams."
In high school, Lau faced multiple injuries but was still able to be involved in athletics through other avenues. Now in college, golf is a top priority in her life, so she really had to push herself to get involved in other ways in order to get her mind off of not competing.
Now that she made her way back on the course, practicing and competing, Lau continues to struggle with her wrist day-to-day but is working on keeping it healthy through rehab. In her first season back, she faced the pressures of her own expectations for herself and learned to work step by step to get back to the competitive level she desires.
"I'm making sure that I'm trying my best and trying to put the best foot forward," Lau said. She shared that she kept her motivations high by being grateful to be back out there because a year ago she wasn't able to have that opportunity.
Her team also enjoyed her presence back as well.
"Alisha is a player you can rely on and knowing that Alisha is in the lineup, it takes a bit of pressure off because she is such a consistently strong performer," Hodgkins said.
As a redshirt sophomore, Lau recorded a team-best five top-20 finishes in seven events, which included a tie for ninth at the Molly Collegiate Invitational, Sept. 30-Oct. 1, in Portland, Ore. Her 73.62 stroke average was second on the team, putting her as the No. 2 behind Hodgkins.
Even though the season was cut short, it was still great to have Lau back.
"She is a leader and adds a lot of personality to our team along with her excellent golf game," Kelly said. "She is competitive and determined and a team needs players like her to be successful."
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