UTC golfer Jordan Britt Britt will become the third player in school history to play in four NCAA Regional tournaments as she and the Mocs begin play in the West Regional today at Tumble Creek at Suncadia Resort in Cle Elum, Wash.Colette Murray is going to miss Jordan Britt.
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga women's golf coach will miss dozens of things about her senior golfer who grew up in the Chattanooga area, attended Girls Preparatory School, then Signal Mountain High School and chose to stay close to home to play her college golf.
"She does everything for everybody," Murray said. "She keeps the peace all the time. She looks after the other girls and she has a massive shoulder. You name it. If they're sick, injured, or sore, or having boyfriend issues or airplane issues, she's there. You name it, Jordan has done it."
Murray will miss Britt's play during competition. Britt earned Southern Conference player of the year awards as a sophomore and again this season.
Murray will miss Britt's leadership. She's the player that the rest of the team follows during workouts, practice and in the classroom.
"She does everything you ask her to do without a question or an answer," Murray said. "She doesn't always like the things I've had to say, but she's trusted me and she bought in from day one and she's the best player in the conference."
Murray will miss Britt's determination. She's improved every season and been setting or threatening school records along the way.
Britt will become the third player in school history to play in four NCAA Regional tournaments as she and the Mocs will begin play in the West Regional today at Tumble Creek at Suncadia Resort in Cle Elum, Wash.
"She's a perfect example of growth," Murray said. "She's a great example on and off the course. The awards she's received this year aren't for no reason.
"She's just brilliant in every shape and form."
Murray will also miss Britt's baking. Teammates speak glowingly about Britt's cupcakes and her decorating skills, as well as her brownies, cakes and pies.
"She's the mom on our team," said SoCon tournament medalist Emily McLennan. "She does so much for us."
Even if the Mocs' season ends this week, Britt will still be around. She'll live in the Chattanooga area, play a full schedule of amateur events in the summer, and then go through LPGA Tour Qualifying School. Britt decorated her graduation cap with LPGA letters to announce her future goals.
"I came here with little short game and being able to perfect skills have been my focus," Britt said. "Now, I have a short game, I know what my putting stroke needs to look like and I know what my swing is supposed to look like. I know the mechanics of the game better, and I know how to keep my mistakes to a minimum."
The Mocs were on the bubble of reaching an NCAA Regional heading into the SoCon tournament. They eliminated any doubt by coming from seven strokes down to win by five shots over Furman and ensure an automatic berth into women's golf Big Dance.
"Golf is not going to go away," Britt said. "I'm going to miss the team aspect of golf because this is the last time I get that unless I get chosen for Curtis Cup or Solheim Cup or teams like that. I've gotten to meet so many different type of people and different cultures.
"I'll miss that a lot."
Murray, who grew up in Scotland, will miss Britt.
Contact David Uchiyama at duchiyama@timesfreepress.com or at 423-757-6484. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/UchiyamaCTFP.