Oct. 11, 2012

STANFORD, Calif. - Freshman Mariah Stackhouse tied for eighth at the Edean Ihlanfeldt Invitational. In just her second collegiate tournament, the freshman from Riverdale, Ga. rebounded from a second round 78 with a final day 72.

Was your approach any different in your second tournament?

"I wasn't any more relaxed than last week because this course we played was so tight, you had to play really smart and make good decisions. I was calmer in the sense that I was able to say `it's just a college event and I just need to go out and play to the best of my abilities.' I managed the course a lot better this week and I think that was a big difference in my score. I had a more positive attitude and when I made a mistake I didn't let it get me down, I was always pushing to get a couple more birdies and maintain an even keel."

What does it mean to get your first top-10 finish?

"It's great to have a top-10 finish. When you see who is named college All-Americans, it's all the girls who are consistently in the top-10. To get my first one was pretty great, especially on that course. After the second day, I thought I might have played myself out of the top-10. I was very proud of the way I held it together on that course, and I'm really excited about our upcoming home event (Stanford Intercollegiate) and doing even better."

Was there a particular hole that stood out to you?

"During the third day I knew I needed to hold it together. There was a stretch where I made two bogeys in a row and on the next hole I set myself up with a really difficult par putt. I didn't want to make three bogeys in a row and I sunk that putt and it really turned my day around. After that, I started making shots and taking advantage of more opportunities and was determined not to shoot over-par and to play well for the team."

What role did the coaches play for you?

"This week they helped a lot and really played that coach role, stepping in and helping me play smart golf. I still have a lot to learn as a young golfer, and I'm learning that you can't take certain risks, sometimes you have to hit that three-wood off the tee because the driver is just too inconsistent. They did a great job helping me keep that mindset during play and Coach Anne (Walker) is just amazing. She pumps me up and she's really positive when she comes around and she's great. I appreciate the help they gave me with course management, and I see that's already improving."