The first event in a college athlete’s career is often the most nerve-racking. In basketball, it can lead to clanging iron or maybe even whiffing air on the first couple shot attempts.

In golf, the nerves often take hold in the first tee box and can lead to stray shots and pulled putts.

The first competition was the Mary Fossum Invitational in East Lansing, Mich. Cardwell scored a 242 (26 over) during three rounds of play, putting her in 65th-place tie overall with teammate Laura Cilek. DiGrazia carded a 253 during her 54-holes of play, good for a tie for 83rd place.

Neither player was satisfied with those results. Cardwell’s third and final round score was an eight-over 80, which led the team for the round, but that wasn’t good enough.

“I’m not really excited about an 80,” Cardwell said. “Yeah, it was my first tournament, but I’m not really excited about being in the 80s.”

DiGrazia admitted to being nervous once she stepped to the first tee. She said she was confident during the bus ride there, but once it was time to tee off, the realization of her first college tournament hit her.

The Addison, Ill., native said she was never able to rid herself of that nervousness, and that affected her game.

“I played kind of cautious the whole weekend. I wasn’t as aggressive as I normally am,” DiGrazia said. “I just tried to not make mistakes, and then you end up making them because you’re thinking that way.”

Cardwell found herself surprisingly composed throughout the tournament, something that might not have helped her game, she said.

“I probably should have been more nervous than I was,” the Kokomo, Ind., native said. “I wasn’t even as nervous as I was during summer golf. I just felt like I had to try extra hard, but I wasn’t nervous.”

The tournament was a learning experience for the young golfers. Both women noted they will know what to expect the next time. The 36-holes played on the first day were mentally challenging, DiGrazia said, but now she knows she will have to prepare for that grind.

“I didn’t play up to my expectations,” DiGrazia said. “From a sense of experience, I’m happy that I fought through it. I struggled a lot out there, and there was a lot of mental grinding. I think that’s the positive I can take out of it.”

Cardwell also noted improvements that could be made in her game. She said she didn’t play to her potential, and left a lot of shots out on the course because of stupid mistakes. She knows she needs to come in better prepared so she is more focused and doesn’t feel the need to put more weight on her shoulders.

Cilek observed firsthand as the freshmen got their first taste of collegiate play. She noted Cardwell showed no fear and handled the pressure well, and DiGrazia showed toughness even though she didn’t post the scores she wanted.

Both players are ready and willing to improve on their first tournament scores, and Cilek sees both as an integral part of the team’s success.

“It is overwhelming for the freshmen playing in their first tournament,” Cilek said. “Regardless of what their scores showed, we are proud of how they handled it, and excited to see them improve in future tournaments.”