Rachel Aujero
Occidental’s men’s and women’s golf teams participated in the first SCIAC tournament of the season, where the women’s team took third and Rachel Aujero (junior) took second while shooting +2 Feb. 22. According to Aujero, the Costa Mesa tournament was the first time in the spring season all SCIAC teams were together. For Aujero, this was her first tournament since returning from fall semester study abroad in Rome.
“It’s just getting your feet in the water and seeing who’s doing the best individually,” Aujero said.
Aujero said to perform her best, she needed to remove the expectations she had from not competing for a while.
“You can tend to overcomplicate it, and I came at it with [a] blank slate,” Aujero said. “I hadn’t competed in so long. I wanted to see what I could do.”
Aujero serves as co-captain alongside Maddie Greene (senior), who Aujero said has supported her in her transition back from study abroad.
“Both of us are both very competitive people, so I think we build off of each other a lot and are always there to back each other up,” Aujero said.
Greene said she has watched Aujero grow as an athlete and person since they became teammates and that the two are close friends on and off the course.
“Seeing each other succeed — as much as we like to compete with each other — is super fulfilling,” Greene said.
According to Aujero, the top three finishers from the team automatically qualify for the next tournament, while the remaining two spots are competed for at a qualifying round.
“We just want to do our best in the conference as a team,” Aujero said. “The five girls going to the tournament are not the only ones contributing to the team’s success.”
As captains, Aujero and Greene have tried to create a competitive atmosphere for the team, Greene said.
“We’re practicing, we’re working hard, trying to be as good as we can be, while also being understanding and looking out for everyone with school or life,” Greene said. “It doesn’t even feel like we’re captains, like it just feels like we’re big sisters.”
Greene, graduating later this year, said she is trying to savor her time with the team but knows it will be in good hands.
“When I leave, the team is still in a really good spot with Rachel,” Greene said.
Aujero said she has been playing golf since she was 8 years old and that she continues to feel excited by having a good time on the course.
“Playing DIII and playing on this team has really allowed me to remember that golf is just fun,” Aujero said. “I’m recentering myself when I’ve missed this one put or I hit a bad shot this one time. There’s a bigger picture there.”
Adam Elshamy
Adam Elshamy (senior) led the men’s golf team in the SCIAC tournament, finishing 16th overall and shooting +2. According to Elshamy, a SCIAC tournament is played at Costa Mesa every year but conditions this year were different.
“The course was fairly windy,” Elshamy said. “Moderate to a little difficult compared to normal.”
Elshamy, originally from Alexandria, Egypt, said he can play year-round thanks to the agreeable weather on his visits home.
“At home, there’s a social aspect to me going to the golf course,” Elshamy said. “I don’t see it as getting in reps or practicing on the range, it’s classified as me having fun with my friends, being outside and having a good time. Secondly, it’s nice to practice and improve my golf game.”
Elshamy said the social aspect of golf at home has converted to his time at school as well.
“I spend more time outside of golf with my teammates than I do on the golf course,” Elshamy said. “I think the initial relationship through golf is translated into something that extends [beyond the sport].”
Elshamy’s teammate Max Malakoff (senior) said Elshamy has maintained a consistent and balanced approach to golf throughout their shared four years.
“Adam’s figured out a way to play — a balance between constantly having fun, but also just focusing when he needs to,” Malakoff said.
Elshamy said his mindset shifts throughout the round and the whole tournament. He said the surplus of time in between shots can make it difficult to focus.
“I try not to check the leaderboard to make sure that I’m completely locked in on what I’m doing,” Elshamy said. “There’s not much you can do, except try to execute.”
Malakoff said Elshamy’s unwavering optimism regardless of his performance has inspired similar attitudes in the rest of the team.
“No matter what he shoots in the round, he’s going to carry himself the same way after the round,” Malakoff said. “You’ll shoot a good round, then you’re happy to see your teammates. But if you go and play badly, you’re still going to be in a good mood.”
According to Elshamy and Malakoff, the golf team has worked to promote the values of having fun while being competitive. Malakoff said Elshamy’s leadership presence grounds the team on and off the course.
“He’s always been the best player on the team, at least my time here,” Malakoff said. “This week once again shows us that no matter if the others of us don’t play as well […] he always seems to perform well. His hard work is definitely inspiring to us on the course primarily, but I think off the course too.”
Contact Lucinda Toft at ltoft@oxy.edu
