Leading into the Fresno State Classic at Copper River Country Club, the University of California, Riverside (UCR) women’s golf team had just gotten back from a three-day golf tournament in Hawaii, where sophomore Mitzi Duarte finished even par and tied for 20th at Ka’anapali Golf Resort.
“We just came back from Maui, playing a pretty competitive field with some Big Ten schools like [Washington], so it’s a pretty tough field … I managed to place fairly well and I knew my game [was rounding into shape] coming into Copper River.
“I’ve played at that course before, so I was fairly familiar with the layout and everything so I felt confident coming into the tournament knowing [how I can attack the course].”
Duarte finished the 54-hole event at 4-under and tied for second individually in Fresno, while the team finished second behind California State University, Northridge. When asked about the team’s chemistry, Duarte mentioned, “I’m blessed to have these teammates in my life that I consider my sisters … I’m in between the freshmen and seniors, so it’s kind of nice to feel sorority over the freshmen, but also be free to act more immature than the older teammates, so I think our bond this year is really good … We have our times where we’re frustrated with each other, but we get through it. It’s a sibling kind of relationship and I love all of them.”
In terms of Duarte’s preparation for golf tournaments, days typically begin early to allow ample time for eating and warming up. “We eat at 5 a.m. for a round and I usually eat a bagel and some yogurt … Sometimes [courses] have really good snacks and I just steal everything, filling up my bags as much as possible.”
Coming into UCR, Duarte didn’t see herself as a player who had the capabilities to turn into a professional golfer, but that perspective has since changed. Duarte has emerged into a top-500 player in DI women’s golf, and believes going pro could be in her future.
“I do see myself trying to at least go pro, maybe in Europe or Asia. [Going pro] is pretty expensive so that’s my biggest concern, but if I continue to lower my scores and get better, I do plan on going pro.”
“I just want to be part of the golf industry. [I’ve been] a youth coach since my junior year of high school and I’m involved in lots of foundations. I want to continue working with those foundations and golf brands where I can share the game of golf with newcomers or others who love the game … I love sports in general, so I’ll be happy with anything sports for sure.”
Players on the women’s golf team have tight schedules, and the bulk of their time is spent either in the classroom or on the course practicing and playing. On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, they’ll take morning classes followed by practice from noon to 5 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays include practice from 6 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. at Oak Quarry Golf Club, followed by 11 a.m. workouts. Players will typically take afternoon classes when they have morning practices and vice versa.
UCR student-athletes are intensely pushed to have strong work ethics, both in the classroom and on the field. Duarte commented, “I’ve definitely grown a lot [at UCR]. Definitely learned time management, I feel like that’s very important. I still struggle even now with balancing both academics and sports … but I manage to find time to improve [in both areas].”
