“Advancing” Beyond Drives, Chips and Putts
February 20, 2019 | Women's Golf
By Mike Pearson
FightingIllini.com
Nearly every successful golfer possesses similar physical attributes such as muscle flexibility, core stability, hip mobility, etc. But when University of Illinois women's golf coach Renee Slone recruits future Fighting Illini, she places equal emphasis on seeking intelligent young women who have the capability to expand and refine their psychological and emotional skills.
"Obviously, we're always looking for the most physically talented players," Slone says, "but, as we develop a relationship with our recruits and get to know them on a more personal level, we're finding out what their core values are -- what their beliefs are and what do they hold important -- and are those things that will really mix well with our team. Are they going to enhance our team culture and help make us better?"
Illinois women's golf coach Renee Slone and freshman Lauren Nay
On the heels of their strongest performance in years—a runner-up finish at the 2018 Big Ten Championship—Slone's Illini have even loftier aspirations in 2019.
They've developed a 10-word mission statement that they hope will help them take yet another step forward:
"Work toward our vision. Lead with love. Strive for greatness."
"The 'lead with love' part is an important aspect of it," Slone said. "They understand the importance of leadership, but it's got to come from a perspective of caring and understanding that when you keep each other accountable, it's because you care.
"It's because you want the best for them as well as the entire team. They're challenging each other to take it to another level because you care. You want that person to be the best version of themselves that they possibly can be."
According to Slone, now in her 13th season as UI's mentor, Illinois's process toward success and continuity has been building for a while now.
"Incrementally, we've been getting better year after year," she said. "And we'll attempt to continue that journey this season."
It's all about the people, Slone says.
"It's essential to have student-athletes that really buy in to what we're trying to accomplish," she said. "Are they willing to put forth the time and effort and do the little things on a daily basis that will help us get there?"
Slone's Illini have forged a "we over me" type of attitude.
"We think about the team as a whole and understand the process that is needed day by day," she said. "The things that we are doing now are going to impact what actually takes place in April and May."
The Fighting Illini women's golf team won the 2018 Cardinal Cup in October - their second of three fall tournament titles.
Illinois' annual "process" begins in early September when team members leave campus—without their clubs—for what they refer to as a "team advance".
"Typically, it would be called a retreat, but we call it an advance because we're planning to move forward," Slone said. "We use that time to really lay the foundation for the season, talking about what our core values are, creating team standards, discussing the different challenges that we may face throughout the season, talking about where we want to go and what our vision is for the season, and what the process will need to be to get there."
The student-athletes participate in team-building exercises so that they get an opportunity to know each other beyond the golf.
"Once that happens, that's when the caring really starts to take place," Slone said. "Understanding each other's perspectives and backgrounds, and realizing that we all grew up different environments gives us a strong foundation to build that respect for each other."
Recently, the Illini women's golfers engaged in a first-ever "Team Advance II".
"We thought it was important to revisit many of those things that we discussed and we talked about our spring season ahead," Slone said. "A big part of the conversation was self-belief and confidence. We also talked about developing good habits that will help us get where we want to go."
Bing Singhsumalee (pronounced SING-sue-MOLL-ee), Illinois's lone senior on an eight-member roster, says she's a big proponent of the "Team Advance" concept.
Illinois women's golf senior Bing Singhsumalee
"It's a chance to get to know the new players coming in," she said. "You discover each other's personalities and what makes them tick. It's a really good bonding experience in terms of team comradery. The advance in the spring is also important because it renews the focus on our goals. It reminds us why we're playing and just re-fires that passion we all have for the game."
Born in Bangkok, Thailand, but a citizen of the United States since the age of two, the 2018 first-team All-Big Ten selection eagerly accepts her new role as the Illini team's elder statesman.
"I definitely feel like I've matured into a leadership role," Singhsumalee says. "For the past three years, I've always had players older than me who I could look up to and ask questions when I needed to. Now, having five freshmen come in and me being the only senior, it's forcing me to take on a different role on the team. I've enjoyed it."
Slone says the strongest part of Singhsumalee's game is her mental side.
"Bing (Singhsumalee) is very calm, even-keeled, and manages situations well," Slone says. "She really is the rock for our team. When others may be getting stressed or hitting the panic button, Bing is a calming influence. She's a great leader by example. You can always count on her to do the right thing."
Slone admits that her personal role as the head coach is certainly important, but stresses that, day-in and day-out, the real responsibility for leadership duty falls upon Singhsumalee, junior Tristyn Nowlin, and sophomore Ali Morallos.
Illinois women's golf junior Tristyn Nowlin and sophomore Ali Morallos
Nowlin, who hails from Richmond, Kentucky, earned second-team All-Big Ten honors last season. This past October, she captured her first collegiate career title at Louisville's Cardinal Classic by posting a 54-hole tournament record of 210, 6-under par.
"At that tournament, you could tell that she was locked and loaded," Slone said. "Tristyn (Nowlin) just has a look and a way about her. In going through the process, she keeps things very simple. The more putts she makes, her confidence just grows and grows and grows."
Morallos, from Lakewood, California, posted the UI program's ninth-best single-season stroke average (74.57) as a rookie.
"Ali (Morallos) is a very wise individual for her age," Slone said. "She's very thoughtful and organized and adds so much to our discussions. Ali is someone you can depend on to get it done. Whatever it is, she is going to get it done!"
The quintet of Illini freshmen includes Katie Hallinan from Loveland, Ohio, Sarah Hauenstein from Wheaton, Lauren Nay from Naperville, Kornkamol "Stang" Sukaree from Huntington Beach, California, and Crystal Wang from Diamond Bar, California.
Illinois women's golf freshmen (left to right): Lauren Nay, Crystal Wang, Katie Hallinan, Sarah Hauenstein, Kornkamol Sukaree
Academically, their first semester was outstanding, contributing to a record-setting 3.79 team grade-point average this past Fall.
"All and all, this year's freshman class has transitioned very well," Slone said. "Crystal (Wang) and Stang (Sukaree) have gotten off to strong starts and had some very, very good rounds. Katie and Lauren also have had the opportunity to travel, so getting that experience has been beneficial."
