Mercer pair goes from rivals to teammates

Rivalries are an archetypal aspect of sports, and when it comes to a sport like golf, a rivalry can take on a whole new meaning, even when athletes are playing for the same team.

Take two freshman golf players from Mercer’s women’s team, Lauren Lightfritz and Tiffany Minji Kang. They have known each other for years, and for most of that time, they played against each other for fiercely competitive schools.

Lightfritz said their rivalry began after a tournament she played against Kang’s team in middle school.

“In middle school, there was this one tournament, the county championship, and it was the first time we had ever lost to her (Kang’s) school,” Lightfritz said. “They beat us by one stroke. I was so angry.”

For three years, Lightfritz played at Lambert and Kang played at South Forsyth, until Kang transferred to Lambert their senior year. Before her transfer, Kang said her relationship with Lambert players was so tense, they would not even speak to each other.

“We really didn’t like each other,” Kang said. “No association whatsoever.”

Kang said she found the transition to be awkward in the beginning after transferring to her biggest rival.

“South Forsyth High School is the rival school for Lambert,” Kang said. “They really hate each other. So, it was tough going into the team.”

Lightfritz said it was a challenge at first to accept a longtime rival, but the feeling quickly faded as the two got to know each other.

“It was awkward at first, because we had always been competing against one another, and then we had to learn to accept one another,” Lightfritz said.

After spending a year together at Lambert, the two of them became friends, and Lightfritz said it was she who introduced Kang to Mercer. Lightfritz came to Mercer in the fall of 2016 and Kang transferred for the spring of 2017.

“These past couple months have been so much fun,” Lightfritz said. “I think we’ve gotten really close. I hope I made it an easier transition for her.”

Kang said knowing someone at Mercer, even if that someone is a former rival, made her feel better about making the change.

Since golf is an individual sport, the two players said their previous adversity toward each other helps them perform better as individuals and in turn helps the team win tournaments.

Both Lightfritz and Kang have had quality performances during their short time at Mercer. The women’s golf team has already won two tournaments this year, at the Idle Hour Collegiate Championship and the Amelia Island Collegiate.

Kang said even though she has had some struggles this season, she wants to get back on track. Earlier in the season, she bested a personal record of hers by scoring in the 60s in a tournament.

Lightfritz said that she wants to win the Southern Conference tournament, and make it to the NCAA tournament. She sees this year’s success as a sign of what she and her teammates can accomplish.

“I see each of us getting better and better each day,” Lightfritz said. “It drives me, and I think we’re going to win a lot more.”

This story was originally published April 6, 2017 at 6:39 PM with the headline "Mercer pair goes from rivals to teammates."