Illinois sold on B-H star

BISMARCK – Golfer Alicia Pascavage never had a high school coach.

Nor did she ever have any teammates.

The Bismarck-Henning senior has something more valuable.

Pascavage has a national letter of intent from the University of Illinois, which she will sign within a week.

UI coach Paula Smith was impressed enough with the person who trimmed her handicap from 14 to 7 last summer to offer a partial scholarship.

"I knew I wanted to go to Illinois," said Pascavage, who placed among the top 20 at state two of the past three years, entering the postseason series as an individual.

Vici Pate, who has been her boss at Harrison Park as well as her summer coach, believes the Illini have made a good investment.

"She's got untapped potential," Pate said. "If she improves like she did last summer, she can be one of the better players in the Big Ten.

"She's pretty athletic and pretty natural with golf."

Pascavage will also never be the golfer she once was. A totally revamped swing is the reason.

Though she placed 12th at state as a sophomore and tied for 18th as a senior, Pate saw flaws in Pascavage's swing. A recent videotaping session proved her point.

"I haven't liked her swing for a while, but she had gotten by with natural talent," Pate said. "To compete nationally, you have to have a sound golf swing.

"Most of her swing before was based on arms. If she uses her body, she could play a lot easier and not worry about trying to pound the ball."

Changing the swing was needed, Pate said, because "she hits it well, but not consistently. If her timing is not right, she hits some terrible looking shots.

"This will free her arms up."

Pascavage, who will major in community health and planning, hopes to one day become a hospital administrator.

"I don't see golf being my future," she said.

That doesn't mean her desire to excel is waning.

"I'm the type of person who is willing to work for what I want," she said. "I had a good four years (in high school), but they weren't the best.

"Every year I got a little better and I hope the next four are even better."

Pascavage also considered attending Indiana, but never responded to requests from Michigan State and Wichita State for videotapes.

She said her decision to attend Illinois was solidified when she learned Pate was going to become an Illini assistant coach and a teaching professional at the Savoy courses.

"That made it more of an incentive to go there," she said. "I think I would have went if I'd had to walk on.

"I couldn't think of anyone I'd be more comfortable with."

Pate, whose contract wasn't renewed after four years, will leave Harrison Park April 30. She plans to continue coaching the Schlarman High School team.

She said Pascavage's attitude lends itself to continued improvement.

"She's determined to make herself better and she's working hard at it," Pate said. "Alicia can go as far as she wants to."

Her first-year goals are to "consistently shoot in the 70s and make one or two trips with the team," she said.

Pascavage's best scores, 70 and 71, were shot at the par-71 Harrison Park course. She has never played the UI Orange, but placed sixth last summer in a junior event at the Blue Course.

"I plan on being at the course everyday this summer," added Pascavage, who will work at Harrison and get a summer pass for Savoy.

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