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Media
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Villanueva inks intent to Bengals
Published: July 25, 2008
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By DANIEL WATTENBURGER
The Hermiston Herald
Umatilla's Mandi Villanueva made her dream of playing Division 1 golf a reality Tuesday, signing a letter of intent to play for Idaho State University in Pocatello.
Villanueva has played golf for just six years — a much shorter span than most top-level players — but has used her drive and determination to make the most of the time on the links and moved quickly up the ranks.
In the spring Villanueva and her Columbia Basin College women's golf team won the NWAACC championship over favorite Spokane Community College.
Villanueva, then a sophomore, finished sixth overall and likely could have done better if she hadn't already been re-tooling her swing for the D1 level.
Big River Golf Course professional Ryan Hosek suggested Idaho State to Villanueva, and at the same time began working with her on a new swing to add distance.
"After the first lesson I didn't want to (change my swing)," Villanueva said. "I didn't play very well. I'm still getting used to it, because it's hard to change after six years of doing it one way."
Though the swing isn't yet second nature, she said she's already noticed a drop in her scores. She posted scores of 75 and 78 playing from the men's tees at Big River, and feels there's even more room for improvement.
Villanueva will finish her 19 summer credits for her Associate's degree at CBC on Aug. 13, just in time to enroll in fall classes at Idaho State on Aug. 18.
She plans to continue studying elementary education and received both an out-of-state tuition waiver and compensation for books with her letter of intent.
UMATILLA
Villanueva joins Div. 1 ranks
Mandi
Villanueva signs to play golf at Idaho State University
By Daniel Wattenburger
The East Oregonian
In just six years of golfing, Umatilla's Mandi Villanueva
has turned her love of the sport into a scholarship to play at the Division 1 level.
Villanueva, who's less
than a month away from an associate's degree at Columbia Basin College, signed a letter of intent Tuesday to play at Idaho
State University in Pocatello.
According to Villanueva, playing at the top collegiate level has been a goal of
hers since she began getting serious about the sport in high school, and now that it's become a reality she's excited
to see what it brings.
"I want to go as far as I can with golf," she said. "I'd love to get
on a tour after college. Hopefully I'll be on TV someday."
Big River course professional Ryan Hosek pointed
Villanueva toward Idaho State and felt good about the recommendation both for her sake and the school's.
"I've
sent a few people to Idaho State and I was glad to send her to meet Dave (Molitor)," Hosek said. "Mandi's a
perfect example of what it takes to become a good golfer."
Molitor is the head of the golf program at U of
I, and after meeting Villanueva sent a letter accepting her to the team, praising her determination and work ethic.
It's the same traits her father, Tony Villanueva, most appreciates about his daughter.
"The time she
puts into golf and her school is what's most impressive," he said. "I wish every kid put the time in she does."
Villanueva will wrap up her 19 summer credits on August 13, just in time to head off to Pocatello on August 18 and
start her first term at the University of Idaho. She will continue to study elementary education.
Her Columbia
Basin College team won the NWAACC women's golf championship in the spring, beating out favorite Spokane Community College
at Hangman Valley and Indian Canyon Golf Courses in Spokane. Villanueva finished 6th with a two-day score of 164.
The win was especially significant for CBC as it had lost to Spokane in every regular season match.
"All
season at least one person would do bad one day, and we couldn't beat them," Villanueva said. "We all played
really good (in the last tournament)."
She finished third on her team in the tournament, and according to
Hosek could have likely won the tournament if she hadn't been in the process of changing her swing. But with the change,
he added, she'll have a much better chance to be highly competitive at the D1 level.
"After the first
lesson I didn't want to (change my swing)," Villanueva said. "I didn't play very well. I'm still getting
used to it, because it's hard to change after six years of doing it one way."
Though the swing isn't
yet second nature, she said she's already noticed a drop in her scores. She posted scores of 75 and 78 playing from the
men's tees at Big River, and feels there's even more room for improvement.
Umatilla golfer has
Division 1 dreams
Herald photo by Karen H u tchinson-Talaski
Mandi Villanueva of Umatilla is waiting to hear whether or not she will be playing for Idaho
State next year on their golf team. Ryan Hosek is her golf instructor at Big River Golf Course.
Villanueva
has sights set
on Idaho State
By Karen Hutchinson-Talaski
Staff writer
UMATILLA — Mandi
Villanueva only started playing
golf her freshman year at
Umatilla high School, but
already the 20-year-old
Columbia Basin College student
is a highly sought after golf
champ.
The 2006 district golf
champion is looking at
Concordia University and Idaho
State to transfer to — and to
play a little golf.
“Concordia gave an offer of
$11,000 a year,” said Villanueva
earlier this week.
While Concordia’s offer is
tempting, Villanueva is hoping
Idaho State is where she ends
up. She is waiting to hear from
the NCAA about her eligibility
to play golf at the Division 1
school. Because she is a transfer
student, she needs to have her
Associate Arts transfer degree to
qualify. Since she does not have
it at this time, the NCAA will
have to waive the eligibility
requirement if it allows her to
transfer.
“They want her and she
wants them,” said her golf
instructor Ryan Hosek. “The
coach said he was definitely
going to hold a spot for her.”
Even if the NCAA doesn’t
rule in her favor, Hosek says he
knows Villanueva will handle
the setback in stride..
“Even swing-related
(setbacks) — I’m not worried
about her,” Hosek said.
Hosek and Villanueva have
been working on her game since
November at Big River Golf
Course in Umatilla. Hosek says
Villanueva knew how to hit the
shots, she just needed a little
work on what she was trying to
accomplish.
“She has a passion to get
better,” Hosek said. “She is
willing to make mistakes to get
better.”
While getting better at golf is
important to Villanueva, it has
not been easy. She has had to
take a few steps backward in
order to move forward.
Villanueva earned a
scholarship to play golf at
Columbia Basin College in
Pasco when she graduated from
high school in 2006. She was
recruited by Green River
Community College, Spokane
Community College and
Columbia Basin. She is majoring
in elementary education with an
eye toward being a third-grade
teacher. Idaho State would offer
her the chance for an excellent
education in her field, and give
her the opportunity to play more.
“My preference is to go to
Idaho State,” Villanueva said.
“More matches, better
competition, better travel
schedule.”
Golfing appeals to
Villanueva because “it’s only
you. You don’t have to depend
on a team. If you lose a match,
it’s your fault.”
Losing isn’t something the 8-
handicapper is used to. She is
rated number one in Columbia
Basin College’s league and won
two out of three tournaments and
took second in the third
tournament. Hosek says she has
a good attitude, which she brings
to the course every time she
plays — whether it is in a
tournament or practicing her
swing until dark at Big River.
“She could be number one or
number two on the (Idaho) team,”
Hosek said.
That’s not quite good enough
for Villanueva.
“I want to be number one
everywhere,” she said.
_ Karen Hutchinson-Talaski can be
reached at ktalaski@hermistonherald.com.
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