The Crimson Tide football team isn’t the only team at the Capstone at the top of their game. The UA women’s golf team was recently ranked No. 1 in the Golf World/NGCA Coaches’ Poll; this is the first time in the University’s history the team has been ranked No. 1.

“Being ranked number one is a confidence booster,” junior Brooke Pancake said. “I am proud to be a part of the first No. 1-ranked team the University has had.”

Alabama earned the top spot by winning the NCAA Fall Preview and finishing sixth at the Mason Rudolph Women’s Championship on Sept. 26. Head coach Mic Potter, who has turned the program around since coming from Furman in 2004, said it is gratifying to see his program rise to the nation’s top spot.

“We are happy to have been voted No. 1 in the coaches’ poll,” he said. “It is nice to see others recognizing where we have come from and what we have done. The ranking will also help our chances at recruiting.”

The Tide is determined to stay focused and continue to play well throughout the season.

“Being No. 1 is just a number, but it is a good indicator for us,” senior Camilla Lennarth said. “It lets us know we are working on the right things and moving in the right direction.”

“Nothing really matters until the national championships and SEC championships at the end of May. What we can do now is continue to work hard and improve our game,” Potter said.

One way the Tide can continue to play well and hold its’ ranking is discipline during practice.

 “We have worked individually to improve our game, and everyone wants to play better at each event,” Pancake said.

At practice, the Tide has been working on a number of aspects in order to ensure the players are performing to the best of their ability.

“As a team we have been working on our putting and short game,” Lennarth said. “We have also been playing scrimmages a lot lately, which is good. When you are playing on the course is when you really learn.”

Putting is an important aspect of the game that they are looking to improve.

“We shot better at our first tournament than we did at our second, but we scored worse at the first tournament because of our putting,” Potter said.

The Tide shot 15-under in the first tournament and only 5-under in the second.

“It has all come down to putting, so we have to get more consistent around the greens as the season goes on,” Potter said.

The team’s greatest strength this season is their collective work ethic.

“Our work ethic is unprecedented,” Potter said. “It is better than any other team I have ever been around. I have to make the players leave practice [because] they work so hard.”

A strong determination to succeed will be necessary this season. The Tide has a tough schedule ahead of them.

“All the tournaments we play in are big tournaments,” Potter said. “These tournaments all have the best teams in the country. We need to be competitive in every one. If you want to win the national championship, you need to be in tough competitions time after time in order to get accustomed to winning in those situations.”

The Tide hopes to continue playing well in the Tar Heel Invitational this weekend.

“We hope to play well in all our upcoming tournaments, and we are confident we will continue to succeed for the remainder of the season,” Pancake said.