After poor putting plagued them at the Edean Ihlanfeldt Invitational last week, the Stanford women’s golf team has spent the week leading up to the Stanford Intercollegiate Tournament perfecting their short game.

“Coach generally sets up different putting drills and certain goals we have to reach for putting and chipping,” junior Ki-Shui Liao said.

The No. 21 Cardinal needs all the practice it can get: this weekend, they’ll face a remarkably tough field that includes No. 1 Duke and No. 2 UCLA.

“It might be a tough field,” Liao said. “[But] our team definitely has the ability and talent to win this week, especially with the advantage of home course knowledge and experience . . . I think we’re all more comfortable playing at Stanford because it’s just like being out here everyday.”

One of the Cardinal’s problems last week was a wet course that softened the greens and prohibited good ball movement — the Stanford Golf Course has a harder surface, so balls move faster.

In addition, the support of the local crowd should provide encouragement that is nonexistent at away tournaments. But even with home-field advantage and Stanford’s support, the Cardinal will still have to produce on the links if it is to enter its four-month mid-season break on a positive note.

Liao said that while the team hopes to win or place highly at the Stanford Intercollegiate, they are focused more on long term success.

“Fall season is our chance to get back into things and for the freshmen to accustom themselves to collegiate tournaments,” she said. “The goals that we set for ourselves and our team are for the entire year, so we still have plenty of time to accomplish these goals in the winter and spring seasons.”

And indeed, the break will do the Cardinal well — many golfers are nursing injuries that have hindered their performance throughout the fall season. Liao has been dealing with “mild tendonitis” in her left wrist. Sophomore Angela King saw her first action of the year last weekend after rehabbing from an injury throughout September.

But before its rest, Stanford must first compete. Chun, Liao and King, in addition to freshman Rebecca Durham and sophomore Catherina Wang will play as a team this weekend, while freshman Piper Miller and senior Saana Rapakko will compete individually.

“I think the mindset of this team is that we are always capable of winning and we should always expect to win,” Liao said.

That mentality will be tested, and perhaps reinforced, at the Stanford Intercollegiate Tournament.