Lorena Ochoa UA women's golfer

Trading greens for grades: The Arizona women's golf team will finally have a chance to catch its wind and catch up in its classes in time for a postseason run.

With finals rapidly approaching, head coach Greg Allen said the weekend off could not come at a better time.

"Having two weeks off is really important," Allen said. "It's important for Lorena (Ochoa) to get rested."

Ochoa, after three weeks on the LPGA tour, returned to play and won the PING/ASU Invitational last weekend in Tempe.

Though Ochoa claimed her seventh straight title, she is also relieved to be able to relax for a weekend and catch up on her studies.

"I have been working very hard," Ochoa said. "I am pleased with my game. I am very tired, and I am behind in school. I am ready for the tournaments coming."

Allen said the missed school has also taken a toll on his team.

"Our kids take school seriously," Allen said. "When you miss school, you need every opportunity to catch up."

Taking the next step: Allen stressed the importance of getting his team healthy for the Pac-10 championships.

"We put up a lot of different lineups because of injury, inconsistent play and Lorena being on the LPGA Tour," Allen said. "Mar Garcia has a bum shoulder. I don't want to take a chance (risking an injury)."

Allen has even scaled back on the practice intensity so that the team can be as fit and hungry as possible for the postseason.

"We have backed off a little bit and gone to individual workouts," Allen said. "Now that the season is starting to heat up, I am giving the girls the morning off so they can work out at their leisure."

Allen said he is hoping that if all goes well after this weekend's preparations, the team will be ready not only to take on the Pac-10's best but also to position itself as a national contender.

"At a school like Arizona, you always want to win a national championship, no matter what sport," Allen said. "We feel like we are the dominant school in the Pac-10. We want to go out there and win that thing. But we will take it one tourney at a time."

Valuable Experience: It's not often that a sophomore women's golfer will take three weeks leave from the team to play on the professional golf tour and be as successful as Ochoa.

Though the experience was obviously beneficial for Ochoa herself, the team is also benefiting, Allen said.

Ochoa added that her teammates have been eager to find out what the pro tour is all about and have been asking advice from her.

"I found out that I can compete with (the professionals)," Ochoa said. "I try and talk to (the team) and tell them about the experience I went through. I think it is very positive. They always ask me questions."