For better or for worse, UW women's golfer Katie Elliott is a perfectionist. A homegrown sophomore from Madison, Elliott has emerged as one of the premier golfers on Wisconsin's squad.

"She's a perfectionist," UW head coach Todd Oehrlein said. "It can at times be difficult. She has to learn to control her emotions a little bit, but that's her competitive nature. She loves to compete, and she's a perfectionist in everything she does."

The competitive fire inside Elliott has been burning since her prep days at Edgewood High School. There, she was all-state during her four years in attendance. In 2003, she was named WIAA State Player of the Year as well as the WSGA Junior Player of the Year. Elliott was also victorious at the 2002 and 2003 Westfield Junior Wisconsin PGA Championships.

"In high school, I initially wanted to play volleyball, but my dad pushed me into golf, and fortunately I came in and was successful," Elliott said. "I'm a competitive person, and high school gave me that drive to win every time I'm out there, and that carried over to college. I am always looking to win the tournament and finish first."

With a nearly perfect track record before coming to UW, Elliott was expected to perform at the highest level immediately. While she has exceeded expectations as of late, Oehrlein has not been surprised by her instant success.

"We knew Katie [Elliott] was talented, and we expected her to play well, but you never know with a true freshman until they get here," Oehrlein said. "It's is a big jump from a competition standpoint, so you're always cautious with the kind of expectations you have, but we knew she had the ability to play well and she has."

Last season, Elliott was one of only two Badgers to compete in every round, a rarity for freshmen on Oehrlein's squad. She ranked second on the team with a 79.4 average while setting career bests for 18 holes (71) and 54 holes (227) at the Miccosukee Championships.

"I didn't know right away where I was going to fit in but just wanted to play some tournaments, and as things kept going and I got a lot of confidence throughout the year, it just snowballed from there," Elliott said.

With her rookie season under her belt, Elliott returned to UW in fall 2005 with a renewed vigor and determination to improve her game. Again in 2005, she competed in every tournament while dropping her scoring average nearly two strokes.

"I've improved a lot since last year. The coaches have worked on perfecting my swing, and when I'm hitting the ball well, it carries over to the short game," Elliott said. "The biggest thing for me is the mental game, and we've really worked on staying off the emotional rollercoaster that comes with golf, and that has helped a lot."

In the early going of the spring season, Elliott has continued her winning ways, setting new personal bests for 18 and 54 holes. Oehrlein also recognizes the strides she has made from a year ago.

"I see two major improvements," he said. "She is much more consistent mentally on the golf course, and now she does not let factors that she can't control bother her like last year. And, secondly, her wedge play has improved tremendously."

While the women's golf team is not lacking senior leadership, Elliott's success on the links has made her a team leader in just her second season. While she admits to not being a vocal leader, she feels the best way to lead a team is by example, and her coach agrees. "She's a leader without a doubt. She provides a great example on and off the golf course," Oehrlein said. "She leads by example more than anything else. Her work habits are very consistent, and she's very committed and dedicated. Players see that, and that's the kind of leadership and commitment you're looking for from all your players."

Anyone who has sliced a tee shot off a tree and into water hazard knows that striving for perfection in the game of golf is an impossible goal to attain. According to Elliott, however, that's all she knows how to do.

"I want every swing to be perfect," Elliott said. "I know every shot is not going to be perfect, but it's something I'm always striving for."