BEREA, OHIO-  The 2015-2016 Baldwin Wallace University women's golf team enters its season with the goal of once again climbing the ranks of the Ohio Athletic Conference and contending for an OAC title.

With three of four starters back and four promising newcomers, third-year Head Coach John Kapusta is optimistic.

"I am excited to begin the fall season," said Kapusta. "We are fortunate to welcome back three experienced seniors and to add four incoming freshmen.

"We are looking for the seniors to bring direction and leadership to the freshmen," continued Kapusta. "As the freshmen acclimate to playing at the college level, I am confident we will have improvement and growth.  The most important aspect will be team chemistry and solidifying our roster and team."

Returning to lead the team are senior two-time All-OAC and Academic All-OAC standout Laura Vidmar (Willoughby/ South) and fellow seniors Nikki Gannon (North Ridgeville) and Shannon Stamper (Westlake).

Vidmar returns as one of the top players in the OAC.  She played in seven tournaments a year ago and led the team with an 88.3 stroke average, including a career-low 79 when she captured medalist honors last spring at the Ohio Northern University Equinox Tournament. She placed 13th at last year's OAC Championships, and enters her senior season with a 91.45 career stroke average in 27 tournaments and 47.5 career rounds.

Stamper and Gannon had consistent improvement a year ago.  Stamper joined the team following the fall season and played in three tourneys last spring and averaged 97.6 strokes per round and placed 24th at the OAC Tournament. Gannon got better and better all season. She played in all eight tourneys and averaged 107.29 strokes overall, including 104.7 during the spring that also included a career-low 93 on the final day of the OAC tourney to place 23rd.

The four freshmen joining the program this fall are Gillian Han (Chevy Chase, Md./ Bethesda-Chevy Chase), Grace Magee (Skaneateles, N.Y./ Skaneateles), Erinn Maynard (New London) and Madison Trenkamp (Villa Hills, Ky./ Villa Madonna Academy).

Since its inception during the 1999-2000 season, the BW women's golf program has been one of the most successful programs in the OAC.

"Fifteen years ago, in its inaugural and second season as a varsity program, we won back-to-back conference championships and finished in the Top-10 in the nation in Division III," said Kapusta. "Three of the last five years, we have won the OAC title and travelled to the Division III national tournament and finished in the Top 20. Our goal continues to be to win an OAC title every year." 

The college golf season is split between a fall and spring schedule.  The OAC Championship Tournament is in the spring of 2016.  Yellow Jackets open the 2015 fall season on September 5-6 when they travel to the Denison University Invitational Tournament at the Granville Country Club. It is one of five fall events in which BW will participate. The other invitational tournaments are hosted by Ohio Wesleyan University (Sept. 12-13), John Carroll University (Sept. 20-21), Allegheny, Pa. College (Sept. 27-28) and Wittenberg University (October 10-11).