It is easy for Michigan women's golf coach Kathy Teichert to tell her players what they need to do in order to have a strong showing at this weekend's Lady Northern Invitational in East Lansing.
"Our top two players need to be in the 70s, probably three in the 70s," Teichert said. "We need a couple in the 80s, and our sixth player can't average more than 82 strokes per round."
For those who don't play competitive golf, this may sound like a reasonable game plan.
The Wolverines will be the first to tell you that playing competitive golf is easier said than done, especially at the collegiate level.
For sophomore Sharon Park, concentrating on both golf and school work can have a profound effect on your performance on the greens.
"I am used to playing college golf this year," Park said. "I know that I am a good player and that I can play better than last year. It is just frustrating, because I don't have the time to focus on the game because of school."
Park made her collegiate debut at last year's 54-hole Spartan Invitational and placed fifth overall after recording a 78.3 average. Her average was one stroke off second-place finisher Shannon McDonald, who now works under Teichert as the undergraduate assistant coach.
While Park tied for 11th with an 80.50 average at last week's Wolverine Invitational, she is looking to average a 75 for all three rounds this weekend.
One intangible that could help both Teichert and Park in obtaining success this weekend is the weather. The weather was an obtrusive guest at last week's tournament and was integral to the outcome of the tournament.
The Wolverines hope that the weather, as well as the strong invitational field, won't get the best of them this weekend.
The tournament hosts 15 teams, including all 11 conference teams. Missouri, Iowa State, Illinois State and Northern Illinois round out the field.
The outcome of this tournament will determine the pairings when Michigan State hosts the Big Ten championships this spring.
The Wolverines placed third in the tournament, but Teichert doesn't foresee a possible improvement over last year's finish.
"I don't see that winning is a realistic chance this year," Teichert said. "I am not sure that we are strong enough top to bottom to win this year. If individual performances are good than we will place well."
One of the reasons that Teichert doesn't give her team much of a chance is the absence of some key players, including Katy Loy who transferred to Kentucky and placed third at the Wolverine Invitational.
Despite the absence of Loy, the Wolverines will have to overcome formidable Big Ten foes in Indiana and Ohio State. The Hoosiers and the Buckeyes outshot Michigan by more than 32 strokes while placing first and second, respectively, at the Wolverine Invitational.