May 12, 2025 • 8 mins
The Texas Longhorns are headed to the NCAA Championships under Laura Ianello in her first season on the Forty Acres. Craig and Laura discuss the Longhorns' season and what it will take to a National Championship.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
We've been talking about the excellence of the University of
Texas women's golf team and how they're getting ready to
head for the national tournament.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
It is.
Speaker 1 (00:10):
Really cool to have someone in her first season as
head coach have this program in a really good spot.
And Laura Annello has done that because she's won a
national championship at Arizona and has this Texas women's team
headed for the nationals there in Carlsbad, and she joins
(00:33):
us now in the hotline lawds. Craig Way, I appreciate
you taking the time. How are you today?
Speaker 2 (00:38):
I'm great. Thanks for having me, Craig.
Speaker 1 (00:40):
You bet, And the first thing I've got to get
you to address is now. I was over there anchoring
our coverage of the news conference when coach Miller was
introduced as the new head men's basketball coach at Texas,
and he took time during that news conference to pretty
much say, you're a tour to force and was talking
about to you. I guess, I guess the two of
(01:02):
you got to know each other a little bit when
he was when he was they had basketball coach at Arizona.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
Yeah, I got to know coach Miller really well. He
in his twelve years at Arizona. We were there at
the same time and got to see a lot of
his success as a basketball coach, and he inspired our
whole department even before I won. You know, we were
really all looking up to Sean and everything he does
as a coach and developing his players, and so yeah,
(01:30):
I was I was shocked that he gave me a
little shout out, but you know, just what a great guy.
I'm excited that he's here at UT with us.
Speaker 1 (01:36):
You bet, all right, let's talk about your team currently
ranked number six, and you finished second at that regional
there at the Betsy Rolls Course there in Lubbock, and
the first day I know, was some beastly conditions there.
Do you, as a head coach have to help your
golfers kind of make sure that that doesn't get into
(01:58):
their head and that they are still able to dial
in on the task at hand, which they obviously did,
But the outside elements sometimes can really affect the performance
of athletes in certain conditions. How did all of that
roll out for you through that first day before things
got a little bit better afterwards.
Speaker 2 (02:17):
Yeah, Well, we got to Lubbock and we had we
had known that we might play thirty six on that
first day, practice around in the morning, in round one
in the afternoon, which is a total curve ball for
us in college golf, because that just doesn't happen. And
so I think, you know, we got to Lubbock and
we were sitting down the lunch and we told the
ladies like, hey, this is what might happen. The weather's
(02:37):
not looking good. They need to make sure that they
get this fifty four whole event completed, so they're going
to have us play in the afternoon starting tomorrow. So
we just told them that, you know, the weather for
on Sunday it was really windy, super tough conditions, cool,
but at least it was not raining. So I said,
it's a good thing we're playing thirty six. I tried
(02:58):
to change their mindset because so much and advert conditions
is whether or not you have a strong mindset or
if you have a week mindset. So, you know, making
sure that the ladies looked at it is a great
opportunity to play that first day instead of like dreading
having to play thirty six holes was everything. And then
the second round, which was Monday, you know, the whole
(03:21):
time the tournament had said we were probably not going
to be playing Monday, and so, but I told the
team the night before, I said, in your head, you
better be prepared and ready to play. I said, it's
not called off. I said, we need to go out
there make sure we stay tough. That was kind of
our motto the whole week there in Lubbock was to
be tougher than any other team. We came really close
(03:44):
to beating way for us that last day. The ladies
played really well, but finishing second and that good field
and qualifying for the Nationals was our goal. And I
think it was really good prep for next week before
we go to Omni La Costa at the National Championship.
Speaker 1 (03:59):
Absolutely, and before we get to that, I want to
ask you about some of your individuals. I guess I
have to start with Pharaoh O'Keefe of course, who finished
second in the SECS and the NC regional individually, also
qualified recently for the US Hope and how about her
and what she has done to kind of set the
tone for your group.
Speaker 2 (04:17):
Yeah, Sarah, just being a sophomore, she is a force.
The kid is is super strong, powerful, you know. I
think her dad, Michael O'Keeffe here in Austin. He's a
he's a tennis pro, owns a tennis academy, And so
I think from a very young age, Michael and her
mom have kind of trained fair to be really, really tough.
She got a younger brother with always lifting weights with him,
(04:39):
and so she's just he's such a competitor and that
she leads by example on the golf course. She never
gives up. She's a fighter. And then you know she's
just being locally from Austin and kind of a sleeper recruit.
She wasn't really a top recruit coming out of high
school and luckily signed here at Texas and came in
(05:00):
a semester early to kind of get some experience under
her belt. And then ever since she's been here, she
has just continued to flourish.
Speaker 1 (05:06):
This kind of goes a little bit off topic, but
I got to ask you, is there a science or
an art in being able to find the sleep or
recruit somebody who may not get that much attention nationally,
maybe not even from you or from your staff initially,
but you recognize something. There's a there's a wrinkle, there's
(05:27):
something under beneath the service that you think, hey, this
young lady may work out for us, and then and
it does work out. Is there a science involved with that?
Speaker 2 (05:37):
I mean, I'm no scientist, but I definitely think that
there's sometimes when you have a player that gets overlooked
and they're super talented, you know, they get a chip
on their shoulder that they were overlooked and they have
an vendetta of something that they want to prove something
to people that you know, they should have looked at
them harder, or they've always been as good as what
(05:58):
they've been. And so I think, you know, Sarah has
a great attitude. I think she's continuing to grow and
learn and be open minded to just continuing to learn
the game. She's formed a friendship here with Mark Brooks
out at UT Golf Club and the legendary Mark Brooks,
you know, play the most PGA starts of all time,
(06:19):
and she's befriended you know, all of the other great
players here at UT with her that just continue to
make her better. Because along with Sarah, I mean, we
got just a handful of SuDS on this team.
Speaker 1 (06:29):
Yeah, no doubt about it. As as we visit with
Laura Anello here on the zone talking about the NCAA. Okay,
all I got to ask you about Omni La Costa
and in Carl's Bad. We you know, we've known about
LaCosta and Carlsbad for years and had had was on
the PGA Tour for so many years, and the LPGA
Tour a part of it with Nashville with the tournament,
(06:52):
the Dinah Shore and all of that. How about how
this golf course sets up for your group for these NCAAs.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
Oh, they're ready. They were there last year. They had
a disappointing finish of eleventh place last year, didn't make
it in the match play, and you can feel it.
They're ready to make the comeback. They're ready to get
back to La Costa. They know the golf course. They're
going to feel very comfortable. We've been playing here in
Austin this week just to practice and prepare for it
and play in some more difficult golf courses and distances
(07:22):
this week, just so that way when we do get
to Omni La Costa, you know, what we're playing out
there will feel easier than what we've been playing here
at home at ut Golf Club. But overall, it's a
marathon of a week. You know, it's seven rounds of
golf in six days to win the national championship. You
know when we won in twenty eighteen, when I won
(07:45):
with my team back then. I mean, really, you have
to be mentally and physically fit. It's a lot on
your body and your mind to get through that week.
And so just making sure that the ladies feel confident
and that they know the golf course and that when
we get there we don't overdo it too early and
get the rest that we need. But then yet when
(08:06):
it's go time, we push go terrific.
Speaker 1 (08:09):
Hey, Laura, I appreciate you taking some time to visit
with us today. We wish you the best of luck
and I hope you're cart and home a national championship
of the team and your second national title. We appreciate
the time. Thank you so much for joining us.
Speaker 2 (08:23):
No, thanks for having me and you guys have an
awesome day.
Speaker 1 (08:25):
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (08:26):
All right.
Speaker 1 (08:26):
That's Laura and Elo, the head golf coach Texas Women's Golf.
They head out to the national tournament and they're playing.
They're at Omni La Costa So in Carlsbad, California, and
it starts on Friday, so get ready for that
We've been talking about the excellence of the University of
Texas women's golf team and how they're getting ready to
head for the national tournament.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
It is.
Speaker 1 (00:10):
Really cool to have someone in her first season as
head coach have this program in a really good spot.
And Laura Annello has done that because she's won a
national championship at Arizona and has this Texas women's team
headed for the nationals there in Carlsbad, and she joins
(00:33):
us now in the hotline lawds. Craig Way, I appreciate
you taking the time. How are you today?
Speaker 2 (00:38):
I'm great. Thanks for having me, Craig.
Speaker 1 (00:40):
You bet, And the first thing I've got to get
you to address is now. I was over there anchoring
our coverage of the news conference when coach Miller was
introduced as the new head men's basketball coach at Texas,
and he took time during that news conference to pretty
much say, you're a tour to force and was talking
about to you. I guess, I guess the two of
(01:02):
you got to know each other a little bit when
he was when he was they had basketball coach at Arizona.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
Yeah, I got to know coach Miller really well. He
in his twelve years at Arizona. We were there at
the same time and got to see a lot of
his success as a basketball coach, and he inspired our
whole department even before I won. You know, we were
really all looking up to Sean and everything he does
as a coach and developing his players, and so yeah,
(01:30):
I was I was shocked that he gave me a
little shout out, but you know, just what a great guy.
I'm excited that he's here at UT with us.
Speaker 1 (01:36):
You bet, all right, let's talk about your team currently
ranked number six, and you finished second at that regional
there at the Betsy Rolls Course there in Lubbock, and
the first day I know, was some beastly conditions there.
Do you, as a head coach have to help your
golfers kind of make sure that that doesn't get into
(01:58):
their head and that they are still able to dial
in on the task at hand, which they obviously did,
But the outside elements sometimes can really affect the performance
of athletes in certain conditions. How did all of that
roll out for you through that first day before things
got a little bit better afterwards.
Speaker 2 (02:17):
Yeah, Well, we got to Lubbock and we had we
had known that we might play thirty six on that
first day, practice around in the morning, in round one
in the afternoon, which is a total curve ball for
us in college golf, because that just doesn't happen. And
so I think, you know, we got to Lubbock and
we were sitting down the lunch and we told the
ladies like, hey, this is what might happen. The weather's
(02:37):
not looking good. They need to make sure that they
get this fifty four whole event completed, so they're going
to have us play in the afternoon starting tomorrow. So
we just told them that, you know, the weather for
on Sunday it was really windy, super tough conditions, cool,
but at least it was not raining. So I said,
it's a good thing we're playing thirty six. I tried
(02:58):
to change their mindset because so much and advert conditions
is whether or not you have a strong mindset or
if you have a week mindset. So, you know, making
sure that the ladies looked at it is a great
opportunity to play that first day instead of like dreading
having to play thirty six holes was everything. And then
the second round, which was Monday, you know, the whole
(03:21):
time the tournament had said we were probably not going
to be playing Monday, and so, but I told the
team the night before, I said, in your head, you
better be prepared and ready to play. I said, it's
not called off. I said, we need to go out
there make sure we stay tough. That was kind of
our motto the whole week there in Lubbock was to
be tougher than any other team. We came really close
(03:44):
to beating way for us that last day. The ladies
played really well, but finishing second and that good field
and qualifying for the Nationals was our goal. And I
think it was really good prep for next week before
we go to Omni La Costa at the National Championship.
Speaker 1 (03:59):
Absolutely, and before we get to that, I want to
ask you about some of your individuals. I guess I
have to start with Pharaoh O'Keefe of course, who finished
second in the SECS and the NC regional individually, also
qualified recently for the US Hope and how about her
and what she has done to kind of set the
tone for your group.
Speaker 2 (04:17):
Yeah, Sarah, just being a sophomore, she is a force.
The kid is is super strong, powerful, you know. I
think her dad, Michael O'Keeffe here in Austin. He's a
he's a tennis pro, owns a tennis academy, And so
I think from a very young age, Michael and her
mom have kind of trained fair to be really, really tough.
She got a younger brother with always lifting weights with him,
(04:39):
and so she's just he's such a competitor and that
she leads by example on the golf course. She never
gives up. She's a fighter. And then you know she's
just being locally from Austin and kind of a sleeper recruit.
She wasn't really a top recruit coming out of high
school and luckily signed here at Texas and came in
(05:00):
a semester early to kind of get some experience under
her belt. And then ever since she's been here, she
has just continued to flourish.
Speaker 1 (05:06):
This kind of goes a little bit off topic, but
I got to ask you, is there a science or
an art in being able to find the sleep or
recruit somebody who may not get that much attention nationally,
maybe not even from you or from your staff initially,
but you recognize something. There's a there's a wrinkle, there's
(05:27):
something under beneath the service that you think, hey, this
young lady may work out for us, and then and
it does work out. Is there a science involved with that?
Speaker 2 (05:37):
I mean, I'm no scientist, but I definitely think that
there's sometimes when you have a player that gets overlooked
and they're super talented, you know, they get a chip
on their shoulder that they were overlooked and they have
an vendetta of something that they want to prove something
to people that you know, they should have looked at
them harder, or they've always been as good as what
(05:58):
they've been. And so I think, you know, Sarah has
a great attitude. I think she's continuing to grow and
learn and be open minded to just continuing to learn
the game. She's formed a friendship here with Mark Brooks
out at UT Golf Club and the legendary Mark Brooks,
you know, play the most PGA starts of all time,
(06:19):
and she's befriended you know, all of the other great
players here at UT with her that just continue to
make her better. Because along with Sarah, I mean, we
got just a handful of SuDS on this team.
Speaker 1 (06:29):
Yeah, no doubt about it. As as we visit with
Laura Anello here on the zone talking about the NCAA. Okay,
all I got to ask you about Omni La Costa
and in Carl's Bad. We you know, we've known about
LaCosta and Carlsbad for years and had had was on
the PGA Tour for so many years, and the LPGA
Tour a part of it with Nashville with the tournament,
(06:52):
the Dinah Shore and all of that. How about how
this golf course sets up for your group for these NCAAs.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
Oh, they're ready. They were there last year. They had
a disappointing finish of eleventh place last year, didn't make
it in the match play, and you can feel it.
They're ready to make the comeback. They're ready to get
back to La Costa. They know the golf course. They're
going to feel very comfortable. We've been playing here in
Austin this week just to practice and prepare for it
and play in some more difficult golf courses and distances
(07:22):
this week, just so that way when we do get
to Omni La Costa, you know, what we're playing out
there will feel easier than what we've been playing here
at home at ut Golf Club. But overall, it's a
marathon of a week. You know, it's seven rounds of
golf in six days to win the national championship. You
know when we won in twenty eighteen, when I won
(07:45):
with my team back then. I mean, really, you have
to be mentally and physically fit. It's a lot on
your body and your mind to get through that week.
And so just making sure that the ladies feel confident
and that they know the golf course and that when
we get there we don't overdo it too early and
get the rest that we need. But then yet when
(08:06):
it's go time, we push go terrific.
Speaker 1 (08:09):
Hey, Laura, I appreciate you taking some time to visit
with us today. We wish you the best of luck
and I hope you're cart and home a national championship
of the team and your second national title. We appreciate
the time. Thank you so much for joining us.
Speaker 2 (08:23):
No, thanks for having me and you guys have an
awesome day.
Speaker 1 (08:25):
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (08:26):
All right.
Speaker 1 (08:26):
That's Laura and Elo, the head golf coach Texas Women's Golf.
They head out to the national tournament and they're playing.
They're at Omni La Costa So in Carlsbad, California, and
it starts on Friday, so get ready for that
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