Sammi Lee Back At The Right Time
March 26, 2015 | Women's Golf
By Houston Gaines
Grady Sports Bureau
A slight swing change and a small boost of confidence is all Sammi Lee needed to get back to the top of her game.
Lee's game had been struggling, but a swing adjustment and new swing coach has her at the top of the lineup heading into this weekend's Liz Murphey Collegiate Classic - the lone home team tournament and marquee attraction of the regular season for the University of Georgia women's golf team.
"I definitely didn't get off to the greatest start this season," Lee said. "Fall was a little rough and then going through a swing change, a swing coach change - it's definitely taken some time to get back to it."
In December, Lee began working with swing coach Jeff Patton based out of Echelon Golf Club in Alpharetta. Patton has worked with numerous Tour players and says he's seen big strides from Lee in their three months together.
"She definitely had some changes to make," Patton said. "But she's smart enough to understand what she needs to do, and she has the work ethic to actually go in and implement the changes. And she's getting it done.
"Sammi has made fantastic progress. She's really, really getting her game back."
According to Lee, the last few weeks have offered her a chance to reflect on her game and continue improving her swing.
But before getting a break, she and the rest of the Bulldogs were on the road in two consecutive tournaments traveling from California to South Carolina in the span of a week. Those tournaments gave Lee a venue to prove her progress.
"Going through swing changes isn't an easy thing to do," Lee said. "I needed to play in tournament play and have it work out so I had that confidence."
Prior to the Bruin Wave Invitational in Tarzana, California, Lee had struggled to stay in the lineup. Georgia head coach Josh Brewer made the decision that she needed a shot to prove herself.
"That's why Sammi had to go to Los Angeles, and I needed her to know I had confidence in her play," Brewer said. "She's continued to reward my decision by playing her best golf so far of her sophomore year."
In California, Lee was Georgia's top performer, pacing the team with a 234 on 54 holes. She followed that up by repeating as the Bulldogs' best individual finisher days later in South Carolina with a 230 at the Darius Rucker Intercollegiate in Hilton Head.
"It's already shown that if you give someone a little confidence it pays off, so it's exciting to see," Coach Brewer said.
Brewer knew that Lee had the ability to be one of Georgia's best. In last year's SEC Championships, Lee was Georgia's top performer as a freshman.
"She had played in the past and played great as a freshman," said Coach Brewer. "She needed a jumpstart. She struggled a little bit this year, but once she's gotten in there, she's taken off and ran with it."
Lee will have another chance to prove herself with the Liz Murphey Classic, which takes place March 27-29 at the University of Georgia golf course, this weekend. The tournament will be Lee's first opportunity to show off her remodeled swing and newfound confidence in front of a home crowd.
"It's so fun to play at home, especially when we're playing well," Lee said. "Being able to be here in Athens when my friends and family can come to watch - it's what I look forward to every year."
-- The Grady Sports Bureau is part of the sports media program at the University of Georgia's Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication.
"Coming Attractions" is a weekly feature published on georgiadogs.com spotlighting a UGA student-athlete who will be competing in a key home event during the upcoming weekend. Previous stories include:
August 28 - David Andrews (football vs. Clemson)
September 4 - Carly Hamilton (cross country in Bulldog Invitational)
September 11 - Tirah Leau (volleyball in Benson Hospitality Invitational)
September 18 - Mariel Gutierrez (soccer vs. Vanderbilt)
September 25 - Toby Johnson (football vs. Tennessee)
October 2 - Emma Sonnett (soccer vs. Tennessee)
October 9 - Jared Markham (swimming & diving vs. Alabama)
October 16 - Gaby Smiley (volleyball vs. Kentucky and Tennessee)
October 23 - Bella Hartley (soccer vs. Kentucky)
October 30 - Olivia Ball & Ian Forlini (swimming & diving vs. Florida)
November 6 - Megan Spencer (volleyball vs. Arkansas)
November 13 - Kolton Houston (football vs. Auburn)
November 20 - Yante Maten (men's basketball vs. Troy & FAU)
November 27 - Damian Swann (football vs. Georgia Tech)
December 4 - Marjorie Butler (women's basketball vs. Michigan State)
December 18 - Tiaria Griffin (women's basketball vs. Furman)
December 25 - International Bulldogs (men's basketball vs. Mercer)
January 7 - Maddie Locus (women's swimming & diving vs. Texas)
January 14 - Shacobia Barbee (women's basketball vs. Vanderbilt)
January 21 - Caroline Brinson (women's tennis in ITA Kickoff Weekend)
January 28 - Nathan Pasha (men's tennis vs. UCLA and Southern Cal)
February 4 - Sara Parr (equestrian vs. South Carolina)
February 11 - Cortni Emanuel (softball in Bulldog Invitational)
February 18 - Chelsea Davis (gymnastics vs. Alabama)
February 25 - Hannah King (women's tennis vs. LSU & Texas A&M)
March 4 - Wayne Montgomery (men's tennis vs. Texas A&M & LSU)
March 11 - Mary Beth Box (gymnastics vs. Utah)
March 18 - Kendell Williams and Quintunya Chapman (track & field in Georgia Relays)
Players Mentioned
