Women's Golf Clinches Landmark Victory

Author: Peter Yordan

The Middlebury women's golf team, in the first match in its history as a varsity program, won an overpowering victory over Williams, Cortland and Elmira, dominating the leaderboard with a team score of 324 strokes. By so thoroughly stamping their authority on their inaugural tournament, the players have inked an auspicious opening chapter to their team's history.

The women's golf team struggled through the nebulous no-mans-land of club sport status for several years before being granted its varsity letter this season. "It has been a change," said senior and de facto captain Emily Lord, who has seen the golf team develop from a pipe dream to a stunning reality. "Everyone is really pretty competitive now."

The group lost no time competing for the limelight over the weekend. Playing at the renowned and difficult Williams course, the Panthers made the most of their moment in the sun by throwing down four of the day's top five scores. The team's dynamic duo, twin sisters Kerry and Allison Ortega '06, fittingly threw up matching 87s to take the third place spots. "Both twins had very solid performances and really good efforts," said Head Coach Bill Beaney. Lord took the silver with a powerful 85, the day's second lowest score and a personal best.

The show-stopping performance of the tournament, however, belonged to first-year standout Heather Gallagher, whose dazzling round of 75 left the whole competition 10 strokes in her wake. "Heather is our little superstar," said Lord. Even Gallagher seemed a little surprised by her start. "We practiced a lot - three hours a day. I didn't know what to expect," she said. "A 75, no, but I hope to stay in the 70s a couple more times. That would be really good." Long-hitting Sarah Hartman '06 rounded out the scoring with a 97 to give the squad a decisive victory.

Coach Beaney, himself, was caught a little in the lurch by the Panther performance. "I didn't think we would score as low as we did. It's unbelievable, this is a group that has been so committed."

The youthful Panthers won't let their victory go to their heads, however. "I want them to go as far as they want to go," said Beaney, "but at the same time we don't want to overdo it and rush into tournaments. They are pretty young, and that is a difficult thing."

Having tasted victory, the team won't be eager to give up any ground, and based on their first performance, the Panthers should be a group to reckon with for some time to come. "We all have a good grounding," said Gallagher. "We are going to be good."