VIDEO: Jessica Shepley Interview
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – First-year head women's golf coach Jessica Shepley has announced the Eagles' spring slate, which features many familiar courses.
In preparations for the spring season, Shepley and her squad have faced roadblocks upon their return from Christmas break but have found alternative ways to finetune their game before hitting the course in mid-February.
"Unfortunately, we were hit with that heavy snow, so our practice was halted quickly," Shepley said. "But we do have an indoor facility in Knoxville and a hitting bay down under the offices, so I think the girls have been utilizing that a bit… the girls know that this is just part of it, and you have to be ready to go."
C-N finished the fall season on a high note with a 2nd place team finish at the Music City Invitational and a 1st place individual finish from Hannah Holland. Shepley believes the performance can serve as positive momentum heading into the spring.
"I'm hoping all the girls gained a lot of confidence from that and realized that regardless of the field, you still have to play golf and hit the shots," Shepley said. "I think a lot of that will be up to them in how they process it and take that moving forward."
The Eagles will avoid the wintery conditions in the first two tournaments of the season, heading to St. Augustine, Florida, on February 12th and 13th to compete in The Spring Kickoff at The Golf Club of South Hampton.
The following week, C-N treks to Hilton Head, South Carolina, for The Battle at Hilton Head on February 19th and 20th at Robert Trent Jones at Palmetto Dunes, an event in which the Eagles won in 2022.
"The girls have won that event recently with some of the same players, so that'll be nice," Shepley said. "I've brought another team there as well, so I have a lot of familiarity with the course."
C-N takes the course again in March, where it will travel to Monroe, North Carolina, on March 11th and 12th for The Jerry Surrate Memorial at the Stonebridge Golf Club. The Eagles return to Tennessee the following week for the Bobby Nichols intercollegiate in Sevierville at the Sevierville Golf Club on March 19th and 20th.
Shepley's squad finishes the month of March in Greenwood, South Carolina, at the Lady Bearcat Invitational on March 25th and 26th at the Greenwood Country Club. The season concludes with the SAC Championship at the Salisbury Country Club on April 15th and 16th in Salisbury, North Carolina.
Although a daunting schedule, the familiarity with the courses brings Shepley hope that the Eagles can compete at a high level to round out her first year as head coach at C-N.
"We're playing on great golf courses, and most of the girls have seen all of them other than conference," Shepley said. "Hopefully, we will be able to carry knowledge of prior seasons with us."
With better playing conditions on the horizon in Mossy Creek, the Eagles will make their final preparations before teeing off on the 2024 fall season on February 12th in St. Augustine, Florida.
