Paterson, from The Woodlands, Texas, finished the four-day NJCAA Division I Women’s Golf Championship with a 39th-place finish at the Mayfair Country Club in Sanford, Fla.
Paterson shot 49-over par, besting 53 other golfers to end her season.
“It was crazy; it was a rollercoaster,” Paterson said. “I was mentally prepared, but I wasn’t as physically prepared for a four-day tournament as I should have been. All the walking, the Florida heat … it was definitely a challenge that I hope to be more prepared for next season.”
Including Sunday’s warmup round, Paterson played five rounds of golf in five days, a stretch she called her most grueling yet most impactful in her young career.
“I learned so much about what I need to do to be more successful,” Paterson explained. “I now know what it’s going to take out on the course and in the gym to be prepared for this level.
“There were a lot of ups and downs, and I was disappointed at first because I know I could have done better. But after having a day or so to sit and think about it, I’m proud of how I competed against the best in the nation, and I know I’m just getting started.”
Paterson also thanked Blinn assistant coach Katie Johnston for joining her on the trip to Florida before adding that she hopes to use this season’s run to nationals as a building block for both herself and her teammates next season.
“I couldn’t have done any of this without coach Katie,” Paterson said. “She was there for me every step of the way.
“Now, I’m just excited to get back to work and show up at Blinn this fall ready to share my experience with my new teammates and help elevate all of us to the national tournament.”
Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 42 NJCAA national championships since 1987.
