Chip Shots Blog | Pim's Bio

Hi Illini fans,

We have won our first tournament of the season! This past weekend we played in the Diane Thomason Invitational at Finkbine Golf Course hosted by the University of Iowa. It was great to see the team defend our title and for Dana to follow in Stephanie's footsteps of winning the tournament as a freshman. Stephanie, the defending individual champion, tied for fifth this year.

The course was in very nice condition and the University of Iowa did a great job hosting the tournament. We were overwhelmed by the help from the volunteers as well as the supply of food, snacks, and drinks. The University of Iowa Women's golf team as well as the coaches were very welcoming to us. Diane Thomason, who has been an influential figure to many female golfers and coaches, gave a wonderful speech the night before the first round and reminded us to be appreciative for what our coaches have done for us. Even though we were in a competitive tournament where everyone's goal was to win, she wanted us to take a step back and be grateful for our coaches and the opportunity to play college golf.

Our practices leading up to this weekend were very beneficial for this golf course. We were able to practice hitting multiple types of shots in the windy conditions as well as being able to play smart and make better decisions. Despite the tough weather conditions on Saturday, the team finished off the day with a one stroke lead going into the final round. After the first day, we had a team meeting and figured out what each of us needed to do in order to finish strong on Sunday. Most of us focused on mental adjustments such as committing to ourselves, swing, and decisions as well as staying confident on the course. The scores on the last day clearly showed our commitment level and eagerness to win.

This tournament was unlike anything I have played in because it tested my mental toughness and my ability to stay confident despite the external elements. I am very proud of the team for keeping a positive attitude and finishing strong on the last day. I believe it was a perfect opportunity for us to play in less than ideal weather conditions in order to learn a valuable lesson of staying tough-minded and never giving up. Up next we will be traveling to Indiana for the Hoosier Fall Invitational in October 17-19. I am very excited to see what we can take away from this experience to help us succeed this season. Once again, we appreciate your support and hope you stay tuned for more updates on upcoming tournaments!

Go ILLINI!

Pim Thirati