University of Minnesota Athletics
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Golf
Off the Course: Alayna Eldred
1/3/2019 4:16:00 PM | Women's Golf
With the spring season kicking off February 2, Gopher Sports will be featuring Q&As with each Minnesota women's golfer. Next in our series is freshman Alayna Eldred. Eldred made her collegiate debut as an individual at Minnesota Invitational and tied for 78th. An Osakis, Minn. native, she played all four years of high school as a member of the Silverstreaks golf team and was a three-time Section 6AA individual champion. Eldred competed at the state tournament every year, twice finishing third as a sophomore and junior. She captured 10 individual titles and was a Miss Minnesota Golf finalist in 2018. Eldred also earned a spot on the Academic Dean's List at Alexandria Technical College junior and senior year as part of PSEO program.
Gopher Sports: As a freshman, how was your first semester, on the course and in the classroom?
Alayna Eldred: Overall my first semester has went well. In the classroom I have achieved beyond my expectations and I am very pleased with how well I have adjusted academically. On the course has been a different story. It took me a few months to adjust to the sheer difference between high school golf and Big 10 college golf. I have gone from being the big fish in a little pond to being a little fish in a very talented large pond. I am extremely thankful for all of the lessons I have learned over the semester and hopefully applying them to the next semester and going forward.
GS: What are the biggest lessons you learned from the fall season?
AE: One of the biggest lessons I learned during the fall season is that I really need to believe in myself and my abilities. I need to remember how I got here and that I am good enough to be here. I just need to stay patient with myself and keep working hard.
GS: How would you describe yourself as a golfer?
AE: I am a very focused and driven player. I don't do a lot of chatting on the golf course, and some people would describe me as intense because of it. I am definitely a grinder and I never give up, no matter what situation I am in.
GS: You come from a home school background. What was that like and how did you balance golf and school in that way?
AE: Being homeschooled gave me the flexibility to play and practice more often than most kids. Typically my school day would begin at 9am and I would have all of my work completed by 1pm. This gave me the rest of the day to practice or golf with my grandpa. I was able to create my own schedule as long as I got all of the assignments done by the end of the day. It was so much easier for me to juggle golf and school compared to my peers and I am very thankful that I was able to have that flexibility.
GS: What made you choose Minnesota and what has been the best part so far?
AE: I chose Minnesota for many reasons. The first reason is the amazing coaching staff here. Coach Redman and Coach Rutt are two of the best coaches I could have ever asked for and I know they will help develop me not only as a golfer but as a person as well. The second reason is the team. The women on this team are absolutely incredible, everyone genuinely cares for each other and that is sometimes hard to find in a team. And finally, I love Minnesota and I love this campus. After growing up in a town with 1,700 people, I needed a change and the big city is just the change I needed.
GS: What is one thing you'd like Gopher fans to know about you?
AE: People who really know me, know that I love horses. My room growing up was covered from floor to ceiling in horse wallpaper and decorations. Every year I would ask my parents for a horse but unfortunately I am still waiting for that horse…
Gopher Sports: As a freshman, how was your first semester, on the course and in the classroom?
Alayna Eldred: Overall my first semester has went well. In the classroom I have achieved beyond my expectations and I am very pleased with how well I have adjusted academically. On the course has been a different story. It took me a few months to adjust to the sheer difference between high school golf and Big 10 college golf. I have gone from being the big fish in a little pond to being a little fish in a very talented large pond. I am extremely thankful for all of the lessons I have learned over the semester and hopefully applying them to the next semester and going forward.
GS: What are the biggest lessons you learned from the fall season?
AE: One of the biggest lessons I learned during the fall season is that I really need to believe in myself and my abilities. I need to remember how I got here and that I am good enough to be here. I just need to stay patient with myself and keep working hard.
GS: How would you describe yourself as a golfer?
AE: I am a very focused and driven player. I don't do a lot of chatting on the golf course, and some people would describe me as intense because of it. I am definitely a grinder and I never give up, no matter what situation I am in.
GS: You come from a home school background. What was that like and how did you balance golf and school in that way?
AE: Being homeschooled gave me the flexibility to play and practice more often than most kids. Typically my school day would begin at 9am and I would have all of my work completed by 1pm. This gave me the rest of the day to practice or golf with my grandpa. I was able to create my own schedule as long as I got all of the assignments done by the end of the day. It was so much easier for me to juggle golf and school compared to my peers and I am very thankful that I was able to have that flexibility.
GS: What made you choose Minnesota and what has been the best part so far?
AE: I chose Minnesota for many reasons. The first reason is the amazing coaching staff here. Coach Redman and Coach Rutt are two of the best coaches I could have ever asked for and I know they will help develop me not only as a golfer but as a person as well. The second reason is the team. The women on this team are absolutely incredible, everyone genuinely cares for each other and that is sometimes hard to find in a team. And finally, I love Minnesota and I love this campus. After growing up in a town with 1,700 people, I needed a change and the big city is just the change I needed.
GS: What is one thing you'd like Gopher fans to know about you?
AE: People who really know me, know that I love horses. My room growing up was covered from floor to ceiling in horse wallpaper and decorations. Every year I would ask my parents for a horse but unfortunately I am still waiting for that horse…
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