By Steven
Shaff, NAU Media Relations
FLORENCE, Ariz.
– Junior women's golfer Dakin
Banta is back. A year after injuring her shoulder in the weight
room last spring, the Yuma, Ariz., native has returned to full
strength and has the Northern Arizona women's golf looking
forward to the Big Sky Championships next month in Chandler.
“It has been
close to a year since I had my injury,” said Banta, who tied
her collegiate-best with a three-round total of 230 at the Rio
Verde Invitational last week. “The fall was tough for me to
get back into it. I wasn't able to start playing until the
season started. I made sure I focused at practice and did
everything I needed to do to get back on the squad to travel and it
is paying off.”
Banta dislocated
her right shoulder and tore the labrum in right shoulder, requiring
surgery that sidelined her not only for the rest of the spring but
most of the summer. She also missed the Big Sky Championship won
the by the Lumberjacks.
“That is one
of the hardest things of my college career,” said Banta of
missing the championships last season. “I was playing well
and I felt like I was finally coming around. I had played really
well the week before. To come back and say I could not contribute
to conference was really tough for me.”
But she returned
following surgery after significant time off. After playing as an
individual in the NAU Mountain Shootout, Banta posted a career-best
70 in the second round of the Grand Canyon Fall Invitational. He
made the playing lineup in the final fall tournament, finishing
26th. In the Red Rocks Invitational this spring, she
posted back-to-back rounds of 77 to finish eighth overall. Last
week, she opened with a 75 at the Rio Verde Invitational and was
the top finisher for the Lumberjacks.
“When she
started getting healthier, she started playing better and getting
in the lineup,” said Head Coach Brad Bedortha. “She has
come back this semester and worked real hard. She is practicing
real well and is working on her golf swing. She has taken some
coaching. She is open and receptive to some things I am showing
her. She has really been steady all semester and very consistent
for us.”
Banta, who has
posted a career-best 76.8 stroke average this season, credits her
increased maturity for her improved play.
“I think a
lot of it has to do with maturity,” said Banta. “I am a
junior and have been doing this for two and a half years at this
point. I have a lot more confidence in my game. I don't feel
like I have to prove anything which I think was one of the hardest
things for me to figure out with playing college golf.”
She is also having
fun on the course and is happy off it with upcoming nuptials this
summer to fiancé James Whitmer on July 17 in Yuma.
“I am out
here to have fun and play well obviously,” said Banta.
“I usually play well when I am having fun. It has helped me
play well this year.”
Whitmer has also
helped her with his support.
“He backs me
in everything I do,” said Banta. “If I have a bad
round, I get to complain about it to him. If I have a good round, I
get to talk about how great it was. It is nice to have someone
there to come home to and talk about golf.”
Banta and her teammates
will take the course again starting on Monday at the 2010 Northern
Migration Invitational hosted by Nebraska in Florence, Ariz. The
19-team field will participate in a 54-hole invitational to be
played on the par 72, 6,227-yard Poston Butte Golf Course.
Banta will join
Alexa Kim (No. 1), Stephanie Kim (3), Megan Buck (4) and Aleah Kim
(5) in the lineup this week with junior Bethany Leclair playing as
an individual.
The Lumberjacks
have had six different players earn top individual honors on the
team in seven full-field events this season.
“That was one
of the hardest things for me coming into this year for me,”
said Banta of cracking the depth on the team. “Not only
coming back from an injury but I knew when I step onto the tee box
I need to bring my A game if I want to travel. It is tough as a
player knowing I really can't falter this week. I have got to
bring it. At the same time it makes every single one of us that
much better. You are going to be a better player if are playing
against good players. It has been beneficial for every single one
of us.”
2010 Northern Migration
Invitational
Tournament
Name
2010 Northern Migration
Invitational
Tournament
Host
University of Nebraska
Course
Poston Butte Golf Club
6100 W. Merrill Ranch
Pkwy.
Florence, AZ 85232
(520) 723-1880
For more information
visit www.postonbuttegc.com
Course
Par/Yardage
Par 72 / 6,227 Yards
Start
Times
Monday, March 15 - 9:30
a.m. (Shotgun)
Tuesday, March 16 -
9:30 a.m. (Shotgun)
Wednesday, March 17 -
9:30 a.m. (Shotgun)
Format
The 19-team field will
participate in a 54-hole invitational to be played on the par 72,
6,227-yard Poston Butte Golf Course.
The teams and
individuals will play 18 holes on Monday and 18 holes on Tuesday,
beginning with a shotgun start at 9:30 a.m. CDT both days. Pairings
for Wednesday's final round will be determined by scores
through the first two rounds. Wednesday's shotgun start is
also set for 9:30 a.m. CDT. The low four individuals scores will
determine the team score for each round.
2010 Northern
Migration 19-Team Field
Boise State –
WAC; Bradley - Missouri Valley; East Tennessee State - Atlantic
Sun; Eastern Michigan – MAC; Florida International - Sun
Belt; Idaho – WAC; Iowa State - Big 12; Kansas - Big 12;
Kansas State - Big 12; Minnesota - Big 10; Montana - Big Sky;
Morehead State - Ohio Valley; Nebraska - Big 12; Northern Arizona -
Big Sky; Texas A&M-Corpus Christi – Southland; Texas-San
Antonio – Southland; Texas Tech - Big 12; Towson University
– CAA; Wichita State - Missouri Valley.
DID YOU
KNOW…Student-athletes, coaches and athletic
department staff combined to volunteer more than 3,800 hours over
the 2008-09 academic year, assisting with events like Red Ribbon
Week, Relay for Life, Welcome Back Jacks, St. Mary's Food
Bank, Adopt a Family, Climb to Conquer Cancer. In all, the
department participated with more than 20 different organizations
and/or events.
