Robert Gautney: Malea Miller enjoying record-breaking season for BC women
| Thursday, Sep 29 2011 09:30 PM
Last Updated Thursday, Sep 29 2011 10:24 PM
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Malea Miller competes in the WSC Golf Match Monday afternoon at Riverlakes Ranch Golf Course.
To be successful in golf, a player must possess many traits, including talent, a hard work ethic and a strong mental make-up.
Bakersfield College sophomore Malea Miller, 19, possesses all three -- and a few other strong traits, too.
"I can't say enough good things about Malea," Bakersfield College women's golf coach Bob Paillet said. "First and foremost, she's just a great person and a good student. She is a naturally talented athlete and this year she has elevated her game through practice and hard work and she now feels like she belongs with the best in the (Western States) Conference."
Earlier this season, the 5-foot-2 Miller established all-time scoring records for the Renegades when she shot a 6-under 66 in the opening round of the 10th Desert Classic at the Indian Canyon Golf Reserve Course in Palm Springs. She followed with a final-round, even-par 72 for a 6-under 138 total and won the tournament by eight strokes.
The 66 broke the mark of 70 set first by Sara Ansolabehere in 2003 and equaled by Ellen Krausse in 2009, both in the California Community College State Championships. The 138 was also a record for 36 holes.
After Wednesday's WSC mini-tournament, Miller is No.1 in WSC scoring average at 75.2, almost a full two shots better than the No.2 player.
That's not bad for a player who didn't take up the game seriously until her junior year in high school.
Miller participated in basketball, soccer and tae-kwon-do (she's a black belt) as a youth, and played four years of basketball for Frontier High.
Miller is the first to admit that she wasn't very good her first couple of years in golf.
"I think I averaged around 100 my freshman year (at Frontier)," Miller said with a laugh, "and around 90 my sophomore year."
But Miller started to devote more time to her golf game and her play showed it. By the time she graduated, her average was around 79 and last year at BC she averaged 77. As a high school senior, was also part of the Frontier girls golf team that was top-ranked in the Central Section.
"It helped my game playing with all of the good players at Frontier," Miller said. "We pushed each other and we all got better because of it."
"She's mentally tough, keeps her composure on the course," Paillet said. "She doesn't let the one bad shot effect her next three or four. She stays focused and she has the desire to get better."
If Miller is to obtain her goals for this season and beyond, that mental focus will be a big part of it.
"I want to get back to state and win or at least finish in the top five," said Miller, who was 8th in the California Community College State Championships last year. "I'd also like to earn a scholarship to a four-year school."
Miller became the fifth BC player to qualify for the state tournament, joining Brittany Goehring (2001), Ansolabehere, Krausse and Katherine James (2009), according to former BC coach Larry Cook. Ansolabehere has the highest finish, a third in 2003.
To get back to state, Miller will have to qualify as an individual for the So Cal Championships, as the BC women's team would, in all likelyhood, have to win the WSC Championship tournament to qualify. Miller is a virtual lock for that, but will need another top finish in the So Cal Championships to advance to state.
"Everything came real easy for her at the beginning of the season," Paillet said of Miller's record-breaking start. "She has struggled a bit the last two tournaments and she realizes that she needs to continue to work hard on her game and continue to improve, but I have no doubts that she will."
And she will need to figure out a way to be more consistent with her drives as she continues to work hard on the practice range.
"That's the part of my game that needs the most work," says Miller. "My drives seem to go every direction possible, but I'm working on it, just trying to be more consistent."
While her drives on the course might not always go in the right direction, Miller's focus, determination and athletic ability will most certainly direct her to the state junior college championships again this year and onto the next level and possibly beyond.
To read more of Robert Gautney's golf column this week, visit Bakersfield.com/sports.
Old Guys Rule
Have you seen the T-shirts with the "Old Guys Rule" saying on them? Well, last week, Randal Lewis brought that to reality as the 52-year-old financial planner from Alma, Mich., won the U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship, becoming the oldest to do so in the long history of the event.
Lewis beat Kenny Cook 3 and 2 in the 36-hole final at Richmond, Texas. Lewis not only became the oldest winner, he earned an exemption to play in the 2012 Masters! The U.S. Mid-Amateur is open to all amateurs 25 years and older who have an established index of 4.4 or less.
President's Cup
Not only did Bill Haas win the season ending Tour Championship and the $1.8 million that went with it but he also won the FedEx Cup championship and another $10 million prize. Now he's been selected to the President's Cup team.
Haas joins Tiger Woods as the two captain's picks by U.S captain Fred Couples for the Nov. 17-20 event to be played at Royal Melbourne in Australia. Couples chose Woods over a month ago even though the former No.1 player in the world has struggled in his comeback from injuries and off-course problems.
Greg Norman selected Robert Allenby and Aaron Baddeley as his two captain's choices.
Kern County Amateur
Entries for the Men's Kern County Amateur will continue to be accepted through Oct.15 for the Oct.22-23 tournament. Entry is $100 and includes two rounds of golf, range balls and prizes.
The tournament is a scratch only event. The first round will be at Haggerty-North Kern with the final round at Foss-Kern River. Call the NK pro shop at 399-0347 to enter or to get more information.
The tournament is also the last of the 2011 Michelob Ultra/Sports Authority Player of the Year Series events. The player with the most points after the KC Amateur will be crowned the 2011 Player of the Year. Currently Chase Goodvin leads with 56 points, followed by Bhavik Patel (52) and Manav Shah (47).
Chip Shots
-- Last week, Tee to Green incorrectly wrote the University of San Diego as San Diego University in the column about Manav Shah transferring to UCLA. Apologies to all the former, current and future USD Toreros!
-- Also last week, Tee to Green incorrectly reported that M.J. Morin had turned professional when he played in the PGA Tour Pre-qualifying tournament at Southern Dunes GC in Maricopa, Ariz. Morin actually participated as an amateur and maintains his amateur status. Bryan Hogan also played and has in fact turned pro as stated and has participated in a few pro tournaments. Hogan qualified to advance into the First Stage of PGA Tour Qualifying with rounds of 74-67-69.
Tee to Green appears weekly at Bakersfield.com/sports. You can reach Gautney at rgautney@bak.rr.com.
