Sometimes the smallest adjustments make a world of difference, and for Ohio University sophomore Kara Brinkmann, those small changes have made a world of difference in her golf game.
Brinkmann is playing her best golf of her Ohio career this year. She ranks second on the team in stroke average at 80.12, and she recorded her best finish at a tournament in her career on April 7 by tying for seventh at the Lady Colonel Classic.
She also ranks second on the team’s list of top three-round scores this year.
Brinkmann improved from last year to this year dramatically. Her stroke average last year was 81.41 — about 1.3 strokes higher per round than she is shooting this season.
She attributes her success on the golf course to not only a modified swing but also her increased level of confidence. She said having a year under her belt helped her mature in her transition to college and on the golf course.
“Last year, I felt like I had to prove myself, like I was the little freshman, and I really felt like I needed to come up, improve and show that I deserve to be here when truthfully I did deserve to be there,” Brinkmann said. “I’m no longer the transition freshman. I’m now the college golfer that I knew I could come here and be.”
Senior golfer Megan Weaver, who leads the team in stroke average at 76.88, said Brinkmann has grown this year. She lives in the same dorm as the freshmen and wrote them all handwritten notes to come to her with questions.
Brinkmann worked on her swing throughout the winter, which she said has played a large role in her success this spring. Her swing was too long, which caused her to come over the top of the ball and caused her to hit the ball poorly. She worked diligently to shorten it during her time off.
Brinkmann also improved in her short game. Ohio golf coach Kelly Ovington said she and Brinkmann’s coach at the Hamilton Elks Golf Club were on the same page about changes in her game. Through their guidance, Brinkmann worked on shortening her swing and extending out toward the ball. She also worked on releasing her hands later and swinging toward her target.
Ovington said she noticed an immediate change in Brinkmann’s game coming into the spring season.
“Her ball swipe is much better and her consistency is outstanding,” Ovington said.
“She doesn’t have as many errant shots ‘cause she’s allowed her self to have a more consistent swing and removed room for error by simplifying her swing, shortening it and making sure she’s swinging out to her target, allowing her club to do more of the work,” Ovington said.
Brinkmann said she wants to be a leader on the team, not only now but when she is an upperclassman. Her success is also validation that she knows she can do something special with her golf game.
“It’s definitely where I want to be. I really want to be No. 1,” she said. “It’s good to know I’ve moved up and I’ve stepped up to my game and am playing the solid golf I need for the team and also for myself,” Brinkmann said.
Her best finish last year was 21st at the MSU Ocala Invitational. Brinkmann has only had four tournaments this year where she has finished outside the top 25, and she has finished in the top 20 on six occasions.
Ovington said Brinkmann’s confidence has improved and she has stepped up as a leader on the team. Weaver echoed her coach’s praise and said it is great that she is playing well leading into the Mid-American Conference Championship this weekend.
“I’m so happy for her getting good results,” Weaver said. “It’s so rewarding when everything finally starts coming together because we’ve put in so much work. The whole team does, so it’s great that Kara’s playing great right now going into MACs.”
mk277809@ohiou.edu
