Kirchmayr ready for NCAAs

Steffi Kirchmayr would prefer not to go it alone, but she still plans to do her best when she represents the College of Charleston at the women's NCAA Central golf regional that begins today in Austin, Texas.

"It's a big honor," said Kirchmayr, a junior from Pocking, Germany. "I'd rather go there as a team and have my teammates around me, but it's an honor to make it as an individual. I'll try to represent the College of Charleston the best I can."

The field consists of 21 teams and three individuals competing over three days and 54 holes for a chance to advance to the NCAA Championships set May 20-23 in Albuquerque, N.M.

The top eight teams and top two individuals not associated with a team advance to the championship.

Charleston coach Jamie Futrell likes Kirchmayr's chances.

"We've played against this competition all year, and the worst she finished this spring was eighth and she had two wins, a second and a couple thirds," Futrell said. "So I feel like we're going to nationals. This is just the first step to get there."

A two-time Southern Conference player of the year, Kirchmayr finished in a tie for third at the recent SoCon Tournament at Stono Ferry. For the season, she had a team-best stroke average of 74.18 over 28 rounds.

Futrell says Kirchmayr's strength is her distance off the tee.

"She's long, and I mean she's extremely long," Futrell said. "She probably drives it 270 to 280 yards. When people watch her hit, they're like, 'wow.' And she hits it straight. She's one of the best players in the country, no doubt about it."

Kirchmayr's powerful drives should serve her well over the University of Texas Golf Club course, which Futrell describes as "long and open."

However, it's the improvement in her putting that has made her a threat to reach the NCAA Championship.

"She's making putts," Futrell said. "In the fall, she wasn't putting well. Now she is and that's the biggest difference."

Kirchmayr says she has worked hard on her putting, and now it's starting to pay dividends.

"My putting has improved a lot," she said. "I've worked a lot with our coach and with our sports psychologist. I was putting really badly last year and now I'm putting so much better; it has really changed my game. I'm confident whenever I step on the green. That's the difference. I've never played so well and I think I'm prepared to play a great tournament and make it to nationals."

Reach Charles Bennett at cbennett@postandcourier.com.