Keeping things simple on the golf course has worked wonders for Ashley Lau, as the Malaysian lass chalked up her first individual title on the US collegiate circuit in the Indiana Invitational recently.
Playing for the Wolverines team of the University of Michigan , the 21-year-old jointly topped the standings with a career low total of four-under-par 212 (73, 71, 68) at Pfau Golf Course at IU in Bloomington, Indiana, sharing medalist honours with Emily Price of Kent State and Valery Plata of Michigan State.
Ashley’s fine performance helped her team finish fourth in the main team standings of the Big Ten Conference event.
“It’s very exciting to get that win as it gives me a lot of confidence and momentum going into the post season. My game is feeling good, all the hard work is paying off … but I think what is working best is having simple thoughts on the course, not over-complicating things,” said Ashley, who is in her junior (third) year at the University of Michigan.
Ashley noted that it felt good to be back in regular action after last year’s abbreviated collegiate season due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Its’ been very frustrating not playing … it actually becomes hard doing all the work and not being able to use it! However, I really did appreciate the time off from golf. It gave me some time to work on other things that I enjoy doing, as all the focus has just been on golf the past few years,” shared Ashley.
“It was definitely hard to get back into the competitive mode at the start of the season. I had to constantly tell myself to take it easy to take some of the pressure off my shoulders. We have some big events during the next month, so I’m happy with how things are going.”
Next up for the Wolverines is the Big Ten Championships in Ohio this week, followed by the NCAA Regionals on May 10-12.
Golf aside, college life is going down well with Ashley, who hails from Bintulu, Sarawak. “I’ve made lots of friends and seen lots of the country. I love sitting in the lecture halls with hundreds of people, but with Covid-19, that’s a little hard right now. Hopefully things will start going back to normal.
“I also love the fact that we practice after class, so that gives me some space to breathe from the heavy study load.”
Ashley paid tribute to her Wolverine team-mates, comprising namesake Ashley Kim, Hailey Borja, Monet Chun, Anika Dy, Mikaela Schulz, Sophia Trombetta, Doodle Yuen and Singaporean Jacqueline Young, led by head coach Jan Dowling.
“I don’t want to sound biased, but all my teammates are great and we support each other. It’s a great team vibe. The coaches and staff are amazing too, they give their full support and treat us like their family,” said Ashley.
While she was back in Bintulu last year from March to August, Ashley is starting to miss home again. “The first half of the time I was home, we all had to stay home due to the MCO … but I definitely enjoyed spending quality time with my family. The second half was basically a routine of food, golf and workouts!
“I definitely miss my parents the most. Other than that, Malaysian food and my dogs, no doubt! I try to call my parents often to check in.”
